Introduction ‐ Several lines of evidence suggest that neuroimmune mechanisms may also be involved in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). The potential role of cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL‐6), in the interaction between neurons and immune system has been emphasized by recent findings. IL‐6 induces acute phase protein synthesis, differentiation of neuronal cells and improves catecholaminergic and cholinergic cell survival in the brain. Subjects and methods ‐ We determined levels of IL‐6 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of untreated parkinsonian patients and age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Intensity of disease was evaluated by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating scale. Results ‐ Significantly elevated levels of IL‐6 were found in the CSF of parkinsonian patients. Moreover a significant inverse correlation between severity of PD and IL‐6 CSF levels appeared. Discussion ‐ Elevated IL‐6 levels in the CSF of untreated parkinsonian patients may reflect the original condition in the course of disease. We speculate that an endogenous upregulation of IL‐6 synthesis occurs in order to regenerate lesioned neurons probably at an early phase of the degenerative process in PD.
We have identified a soluble form of the human urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) receptor (uPAR) in the ascitic fluids from patients with ovarian cancer. After purification of uPAR from the ascitic fluids by ligand-affinity chromatography (prouPA Sepharose), the uPAR was initially identified by crosslinking to a radiolabeled amino-terminal fragment of human uPA. The uPAR purified from the ascitic fluid has no bound ligand (uPA), as similar amounts can be purified by ligand-affinity chromatography as by immuno-affinity chromatography. uPAR from ascitic fluids partitions in the water phase after a temperature-dependent phase separation of a detergent extract. It therefore lacks at least the lipid moiety of the glycophospholipid anchor present in cellular-bound uPARs. It is highly glycosylated and the deglycosylated form has the same electrophoretic mobility as previously characterized cellular uPAR from other sources. The immunoreactivity of the purified uPAR from the ascitic fluid is indistinguishable from that of characterized uPAR, demonstrated by Western blotting with three different anti-uPAR monoclonal antibodies. The uPAR was found in 11 of 11 ascitic fluids from patients with ovarian cancer and in elevated amounts in the plasma from 2 of 3 patients. The concentration of soluble uPAR in the ascitic fluid was estimated to range between 1 and 10 ng/ml. Human soluble uPAR, derived from the tumor cells, was also found in the ascitic fluid and serum from nude mice xenografted intraperitoneally with three different human ovarian carcinomas. (J. Clin. Invest. 1993.92:2160-2167.) Key words: ovarian cancer. urokinase plasminogen activator receptor * ascitic fluid * plasma.soluble receptor
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.