A FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR BINDING-PROTEIN IN HUMAN CEREBRAL SPINAL-FLUID

A soluble protein which binds basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) h as been detected in cerebral spinal fluid from normal individuals and patients with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This 70-85 kDa protein is recognized by an antibody to the extracellular domain o f the high affinity FGF receptor and is not detected by an antibody to the intracellular domain of the FGF receptor, suggesting that it cons ists of a truncated portion of the extracellular domain of the high af finity FGF receptor. This FGF-BP appears to be identical to the two Ig G-like loop form of FGFR-1 identified and purified from human and bovi ne blood. The possibility that this FGF-BP may play a role in transpor ting, sequestering, or even delivering the FGFs to target cells in the CNS is discussed.