PURIFICATION OF A FACTOR FROM CSF IN PATIENT AFTER SAH WHICH INDUCES THE CYTOSOLIC-FREE CALCIUM ELEVATION IN VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS

Cerebrospinal fluid from patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrh age induces the elevation of cytosolic free calcium [Ca2+]i in culture d vascular smooth muscle cells. We have purified a [Ca2+]i elevating f actor from cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with subarachnoid hemorrha ge due to aneurysm rupture. The calcium-elevating protein factor was p urified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation and a combina tion of Mono Q, Superose 12, and Mono S columns using liquid chromatog raphy. Fifteen mu g of the purified protein was obtained from 340 mg o f cerebrospinal fluid proteins, and the molecular mass of the protein was estimated to be 81 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide ge l electrophoresis. It was also shown that the purified protein was cro ss-reactive with antihuman transferrin antibody. These results suggest ed that transferrin may be involved with the cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.