Proteomic Analysis of the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Parkinson's Disease Patients Pre- and Post-Deep Brain Stimulation

TLDR

The study aims to examine protein expression changes in CSF before and after deep brain stimulation to uncover potential mechanisms. CSF from six Parkinson’s disease patients pre‑ and post‑DBS and six controls was analyzed by 2‑D DIGE coupled with MALDI‑TOF/TOF‑TOF or ESI‑MS, followed by western blot validation of selected proteins. Twenty‑one proteins were identified, and changes in EC‑SOD and tetranectin levels correlated with DBS, remaining stable for other proteins and decreasing when stimulation was halted.

Abstract

Aims: To investigate alterations in protein expression associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in an attempt to elucidate possible mechanisms of action. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), obtained from six Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (pre- and post-DBS) and from six normal healthy controls, was studied for differentially expressed proteins. 2-D DIGE, in combination with MALDI-TOF and TOF-TOF Mass Spectrometry (MS) or ESI-MS, was used to identify the changed proteins (3 PD patients and 3 controls). Selected proteins were further studied using western blotting (6 PD patients and 6 controls). Results: Twenty-one proteins were identified after MS and protein database interrogation. Apart from apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the expression levels of complement C4 (C4), IgA, tetranectin, and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), detected by western blotting, correlated well with the 2-D DIGE results. In the follow-up period, the expression levels of C4, apoA-I and IgA were stable whereas EC-SOD and tetranectin were significantly elevated. In addition, when DBS was ceased in one patient due to a suicide attempt, the levels of EC-SOD and tetranectin significantly decreased. Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that variations in the expression levels of EC-SOD and tetranectin in CSF is related to DBS.