Proteomic analysis of multiple sclerosis cerebrospinal fluid

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting were used to identify proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pooled from three patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and in CSF pooled from three patients with non-MS inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Resolution of CSF proteins on three pH gradients (3-10, 4-7 and 6-11) enabled identification of a total of 430 spots in the MS CSF proteome that represented 61 distinct proteins. The gels containing MS CSF revealed 103 protein spots that were not seen on control gels. All but four of these 103 spots were proteins known to be present in normal human CSF. The four exceptions were: CRTAC-IB (cartilage acidic protein), tetranectin (a plasminogen-binding protein), SPARC-like protein (a calcium binding cell signalling glycoprotein), and autotaxin t (a phosphodiesterase). It remains unknown whether these four proteins are related to the cause and pathogenesis of MS.