Proteome analysis of human cerebrospinal fluid as a diagnostic biomarker in patients with meningioma

BACKGROUND: To identify meningioma-specific proteins, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 4 patients with a meningioma and 4 patients with a non-brain tumorous lesion were analyzed. MATERIAL/METHODS: Two-dimensional electrophoresis and electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry analyses revealed 10 unique spots, containing 11 independent proteins (spot #2 and #4 each contained 2 proteins and spot #3 was not identified) were evident in CSF associated with human meningioma: serum albumin precursor (3 different isoforms), Apolipoprotein E (Apo E), Apolipoprotein J precursor (Apo J), Transthyretin precursor (TTR), Prostaglandin D2 synthase 21 kDa (PTGDS), proapolipoprotein, Chain D hemoglobin Ypsilanti, alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), and beta-2-microglobulin precursor (β2M). RESULTS: The contents of Apo E, Apo J and AAT were increased, while PTGDS, TTR and β2M were decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The results observed by 2-dimensional electrophoresis were verified by Western blot analysis. The unique proteins may represent possible candidate biomarkers of meningioma.