Abstract
In order to examine the redox state of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) albumin together with serum albumin from orthopedic patients, we have analyzed the percentage of reduced and oxidized albumin fractions in CSF and serum by HPLC. Forty-two patients had no detectable evidences of systemic diseases such as hepatic and renal dysfunctions, and they were divided into two groups by their age (young group, average age = 31.3 years (n = 10); elder group, 64.8 years (n = 32)). Informed consent was obtained in all cases. Albumin is the mixture of reduced and oxidized albumins. Oxidized albumin is composed of two type of albumin, i.e., mixed disulfide with cysteine (tentatively called HNA-1) and oxidation product higher than mixed disulfide with reactive oxygen species (called HNA-2). In the elder patients, mean values for the fraction of HMA, HNA-1 and HNA-2 were 93.1, 5.8 and 1.1% for CSF, and 69.5, 28.6 and 1.9% for serum, respectively. In the young patients, those values were 93.0, 6.7 and 0.3% for CSF, and 76.4, 22.0 and 1.6% for serum, respectively. CSF is believed to maintain the homeostasis of brain functions, especially defense against oxidative stress. From our HPLC results, in both groups, significant difference between the values for CSF and serum indicates the function of blood-brain barrier is maintained. Significant high value for reduced albumin level in CSF in both groups indicates the redox state of CSF is kept highly reduced status. [J Physiol Sci. 2006;56 Suppl:S122]
