Cerebral trypsinogen expression in human and rat cerebrospinal fluid

Area of Science:

• Neurochemistry
• Proteomics
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Trypsinogen, a precursor to trypsin, is crucial in various physiological processes.
• Its presence and activation state in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were previously uncharacterized.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and neurosurgical interventions can impact the central nervous system environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify trypsinogen in CSF and determine its activation status.
• To investigate changes in trypsinogen activation following experimental SAH in rats.
• To assess trypsinogen activation in neurosurgical patients undergoing craniotomy for aneurysm clipping.

Main Methods:

• Detection of trypsinogen in CSF using trypsinogen activation peptide (TAP) as a marker.
• Experimental induction of SAH in rats and sham operations for control.
• Measurement of TAP levels in CSF of patients with ruptured and unruptured aneurysms pre- and post-operatively.

Main Results:

• Trypsinogen was identified in CSF for the first time.
• Experimental SAH in rats led to a significant reduction in TAP levels (26% of baseline).
• Patients undergoing craniotomy for aneurysm clipping showed a significant postoperative decrease in TAP concentration.

Conclusions:

• Trypsinogen is present in CSF and its activation is significantly reduced following SAH in rats.
• Neurosurgical procedures like craniotomy for aneurysm clipping also lead to a decrease in CSF trypsinogen activation.
• These findings suggest trypsinogen activation is sensitive to SAH and neurosurgical interventions.