Biomaterial Database

Alpha 1-antitrypsin in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurologic diseases. 1985

G S Pearl, and R E Mullins

Proteases and their inhibitors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neuroimmunologic diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). We measured the immunochemical level and functional activity of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum in patients with MS and other neurologic diseases. Increases in the immunochemical level of AAT in CSF correlated directly with disturbances in the blood-brain barrier, as reflected by the ratio of albumin in CSF to that in serum. The AAT activity in CSF directly correlated with the immunochemical level when all patients were compared. However, the AAT activity in patients with inflammatory diseases tended to be decreased relative to the immunochemical level, suggesting inactivation of AAT in these disorders. The AAT activity was not significantly altered in patients with MS, despite reports of increased protease activity in active MS.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009103	Multiple Sclerosis	An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)	MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D009422	Nervous System Diseases	Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. This includes disorders of the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscle.	Neurologic Disorders,Nervous System Disorders,Neurological Disorders,Disease, Nervous System,Diseases, Nervous System,Disorder, Nervous System,Disorder, Neurologic,Disorder, Neurological,Disorders, Nervous System,Disorders, Neurologic,Disorders, Neurological,Nervous System Disease,Nervous System Disorder,Neurologic Disorder,Neurological Disorder
D001812	Blood-Brain Barrier	Specialized non-fenestrated tightly-joined ENDOTHELIAL CELLS with TIGHT JUNCTIONS that form a transport barrier for certain substances between the cerebral capillaries and the BRAIN tissue.	Brain-Blood Barrier,Hemato-Encephalic Barrier,Barrier, Blood-Brain,Barrier, Brain-Blood,Barrier, Hemato-Encephalic,Barriers, Blood-Brain,Barriers, Brain-Blood,Barriers, Hemato-Encephalic,Blood Brain Barrier,Blood-Brain Barriers,Brain Blood Barrier,Brain-Blood Barriers,Hemato Encephalic Barrier,Hemato-Encephalic Barriers
D002199	Capillary Permeability	The property of blood capillary ENDOTHELIUM that allows for the selective exchange of substances between the blood and surrounding tissues and through membranous barriers such as the BLOOD-AIR BARRIER; BLOOD-AQUEOUS BARRIER; BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER; BLOOD-NERVE BARRIER; BLOOD-RETINAL BARRIER; and BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER. Small lipid-soluble molecules such as carbon dioxide and oxygen move freely by diffusion. Water and water-soluble molecules cannot pass through the endothelial walls and are dependent on microscopic pores. These pores show narrow areas (TIGHT JUNCTIONS) which may limit large molecule movement.	Microvascular Permeability,Permeability, Capillary,Permeability, Microvascular,Vascular Permeability,Capillary Permeabilities,Microvascular Permeabilities,Permeabilities, Capillary,Permeabilities, Microvascular,Permeabilities, Vascular,Permeability, Vascular,Vascular Permeabilities
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000515	alpha 1-Antitrypsin	Plasma glycoprotein member of the serpin superfamily which inhibits TRYPSIN; NEUTROPHIL ELASTASE; and other PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES.	Trypsin Inhibitor, alpha 1-Antitrypsin,alpha 1-Protease Inhibitor,alpha 1-Proteinase Inhibitor,A1PI,Prolastin,Serpin A1,Zemaira,alpha 1 Antiprotease,alpha 1-Antiproteinase,1-Antiproteinase, alpha,Antiprotease, alpha 1,Inhibitor, alpha 1-Protease,Inhibitor, alpha 1-Proteinase,Trypsin Inhibitor, alpha 1 Antitrypsin,alpha 1 Antiproteinase,alpha 1 Antitrypsin,alpha 1 Protease Inhibitor,alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor