Caspase-3 activity is present in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with traumatic brain injury.

Abstract

Loss of neurons after traumatic brain injury (TBI) might involve dysregulated apoptosis. Activation of caspase-3 is one hallmark of apoptosis. Therefore, caspase-3 activity (cleavage of DEVD-afc) was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (n=113) from 27 patients with TBI at day 1 to 14 after trauma. Caspase-3 activity was detected in 31 (27.4%) CSF samples with highest values (> 5.5 microM/min) seen at day 2-5 after trauma. No caspase-3 activity was found in serum from patients or CSF from controls. The presence of activated caspase-3 in CSF suggests ongoing apoptotic processes during traumatic brain injury.

• Authors: L Härter, M Keel, H Hentze, M Leist, W Ertel
• Journal: Journal of neuroimmunology (J Neuroimmunol) Vol. 121 Issue 1-2 Pg. 76-8 (Dec 03 2001) ISSN: 0165-5728 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 11730942 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Coumarins
• Oligopeptides
• aspartyl-glutamyl-valyl-aspartyl-7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin
• CASP3 protein, human
• Caspase 3
• Caspases

Topics

• Adult
• Apoptosis (physiology)
• Brain Injuries (cerebrospinal fluid, enzymology, pathology)
• Caspase 3
• Caspases (cerebrospinal fluid)
• Coumarins
• Enzyme Activation
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neurons (metabolism, pathology)
• Oligopeptides