Dynamic Monitoring of Neurological Diseases by CSF Clinical Markers

Abstract

Neurological symptoms and neurodegeneration are silent features of many neuropathological conditions. These include acute metabolic and physiological insult, chronic motor and dementia disorders as well as inflammatory diseases represting important causes of morbidity and mortality in humans. Studies dining the last decade have provided convincing evidence that numerous neuroactive molecules play a vital role in chemical signaling and neurodegenerative processes of the nervous system.¹ These substances before mainly represented putative transmitters and neuropeptides. Investigations on oxidative stress involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (NOS) are now largely believed to be in part responsible for the induction of neurogenic lesions not only by producing neurotoxins but also leading to DNA adduct formation.² The interdependence of neuropeptide/neurotransmitter pathways and their co-existence in the same neuron is a tremendous advance to understand how neurosecretion can control the processes of transmitter synthesis, release and metabolism. Receptor active opioid peptides in human brain were demonstrated more than 20 years ago.³ Regardless of our advance knowledge on the neurochemitsry of neuropeptide/neurotransmitter and free radicals, it still remains extremely difficult to have a precise diagnosis of the early onset of neurodegenerative processes and only the post-mortem histopathological and laboratory tests can provide the true neuropathological picture.