Increased intrathecal synthesis of fibronectin in bacterial and carcinomatous meningitis

Abstract

Immunoreactive fibronectin (Fn) was quantified in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from patients with bacterial meningitis (n = 46), tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE) (n = 6), HIV infection (n = 6), Guillain‐Barré syndrome (n = 5), carcinomatous meningitis (n = 11), multiple sclerosis (n = 15), disk disease (n = 11), and controls (n = 28). A highly significant elevation of CSF Fn was found in bacterial meningitis, TBE, and carcinomatous meningitis. There were no significant differences in serum Fn between any of the groups. An Fn index to estimate the rate of intrathecal Fn synthesis reached the highest value in bacterial meningitis. Our findings suggest that CSF Fn may be an indicator of adequate host reaction and tissue repair. For diagnostic purposes, the determination of CSF Fn probably does not add much to routine CSF laboratory tests.

Fibronectin is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients suffering from bacterial meningitis and enhances inflammation caused by bacterial products in primary mouse microglial cell cultures

“…1987). Especially the concentrations of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins which physiologically are present at relatively low levels in CSF are often increased in CSF after brain injury of different origins (Weller et al. 1990; Gervais and Schüller 1991; Weller 1992; Cartier et al.…”

Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Radiological Findings of Neoplastic Meningitis

“…CSF fibronectin and myelin basic protein values can be elevated in neoplastic meningitis, bacterial meningitis, tick-borne encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, trauma, and a number of other conditions. 87,88 Epidermal growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and antithrombin 3 have been suggested as useful biomarkers, although antithrombin 3 has been evaluated in primary CNS lymphoma but not neoplastic meningitis. [89][90][91] Other markers such as creatinine kinase BB, tissue polypeptide antigen, and β-2 microglobulin are all indirect indicators of neoplastic meningitis and are still not sensitive enough to improve on findings seen on cytology.…”

Fibronectin changes in eosinophilic meningitis with blood–CSF barrier disruption

“…Fibronectin concentration is relatively low in the CSF but often increases after brain injury (Gervais and Schüller, 1991;Nasu-Tada et al, 2006;Weller et al, 1990). In brain injury due to infectious diseases, various mechanisms lead to increased concentrations of endogenous proteins in the CSF as well as in the extracellular space of the nervous tissue (Davson et al, 1987).…”

“…The high molecular weight of fibronectin and its strong adhesion to cellular and connective tissue surfaces strongly inhibit the filtration of plasma fibronectin through an intact BBB (Weller et al, 1990). However, plasma fibronectin can extravasate into the CNS via a damaged BBB under brain trauma conditions (Nag et al, 1997).…”

“…Under normal conditions, fibronectins are present in the CSF at low concentrations. However, when the permeabilities of the blood-CSF barrier and blood-brain barrier (BBB) increase, or when CSF circulation decreases, the fibronectin concentrations in CSF can increase (Goos et al, 2007;Weller, 1992;Weller et al, 1990). The assessment of blood-CSF barrier breakdown by CSF is based on the direct or indirect determination of protein permeability across the barrier.…”