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Basic fibroblast growth factor in experimental and clinical bacterial meningitis
1Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
Pediatric Research
|January 16, 1999
Summary
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is elevated in bacterial meningitis, with higher levels correlating to increased disease severity. This neurotrophic factor plays a role in the condition's pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a neurotrophic factor in the central nervous system (CNS).
- bFGF expression increases in response to CNS injury like seizures or strokes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate bFGF expression during experimental bacterial meningitis.
- To determine bFGF levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with bacterial meningitis.
Main Methods:
- Established a mouse model of bacterial meningitis via intracranial injection of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Examined bFGF immunoreactivity in brain tissue using immunohistochemistry.
- Measured CSF bFGF levels in children with bacterial meningitis, aseptic meningitis, and controls using enzyme immunoassay.
Main Results:
- Enhanced bFGF expression was observed in neutrophils, macrophages, and adjacent neurons in experimental meningitis.
- CSF bFGF levels were significantly higher in children with bacterial meningitis compared to aseptic meningitis or controls.
- CSF bFGF levels decreased with antibiotic treatment in survivors and were higher in patients with severe sequelae or mortality.
Conclusions:
- bFGF is upregulated in bacterial meningitis, both experimentally and clinically.
- CSF bFGF levels are associated with disease severity and outcome in childhood bacterial meningitis.
- bFGF may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis.