Elevated Levels of alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid Glycoprotein in CSF of Patients with Low-Grade Gliomas

Abstract

Little is known about the expression of mitogens and other tumour-related substances in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of glioma patients. The aim of the current study was to determine the presence of aberrant proteins in the CSF of patients with low-grade gliomas. Lumbar puncture was performed in 8 adult patients with supratentorial low-grade gliomas at the time of diagnosis and in 7 controls. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry were used to detect and quantify deviant proteins in the CSF. Two isoforms of α₂-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein (AHSG) were identified and demonstrated in higher levels in patients with low-grade gliomas compared with the control group consisting of patients with mixed neurological diagnoses (p = 0.001 and p = 0.04, respectively). In 1 patient, the level of AHSG was significantly reduced after gross total resection of the tumour. AHSG appears in the present proteome screening as a novel substance in glioma research. This glycoprotein is expressed in the fetal human brain and is believed to be involved in the embryonic development of the neocortex. Further analyses are planned to determine the significance of the increased levels of AHSG in the CSF of patients with low-grade gliomas.

Serum α2-HS Glycoprotein Predicts Survival in Patients with Glioblastoma

“…In contrast to the risks associated with CSF collection, serum is safely and easily obtainable with no risk to patients or normal subjects. A previous study reported increased AHSG in the CSF of patients with low-grade gliomas (27 ), who were found to have re-duced serum AHSG in our study. AHSG immunohistochemistry (not shown) revealed AHSG leakage from the blood through disrupted blood-tumor barrier into the CSF in glioma patients, thus explaining the reported increase in CSF AHSG.…”

Proteomic and cytokine plasma biomarkers for predicting progression from colorectal adenoma to carcinoma in human patients

“…More importantly, this protein inhibits intestinal tumor progression by antagonistic action against transforming growth factor ␤ [50]. However, conversely, an earlier proteomic study detected higher levels of two isoforms of AHSG in patients with lowgrade gliomas compared with a control group consisting of patients with mixed neurological diagnoses [51]. For the first time, we detected increased plasma levels of AHSG in CRC patients compared to patients with adenomas.…”

Human body fluid proteome analysis

“…Two isoforms of A2HSG were expressed at higher levels in patients with low-grade gliomas compared with the control group consisting of patients with mixed neurological diagnoses. In one patient, the level of AHSG was significantly reduced after gross total resection of the tumor [355]. Two tumor-related proteins, N-myc oncoprotein and low-molecular weight caldesmon, were identified in CSF samples of patients with primary brain tumors [356].…”