Objective: To quantify F-2-isoprostane levels in CSF obtained from the lumb
ar cistern of patients with AD, ALS, and controls. Bachground: Studies of h
uman postmortem tissue and experimental models have suggested a role for ox
idative damage in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, e
specially AD and ALS. F-2-isoprostanes are exclusive products of free-radic
al-mediated peroxidation of arachidonic acid that have been widely used as
quantitative biomarkers of lipid peroxidation in vivo in humans. Recently,
we showed that F-2-isoprostane concentrations are significantly elevated in
CSF obtained postmortem from the lateral ventricles of patients with defin
ite AD compared with controls. Methods: F-2-isoprostanes were quantified by
gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Res
ults: CSF F-2-isoprostanes were increased significantly in patients with pr
obable AD, but not in ALS patients, compared with controls. Conclusions: In
creased CSF F-2-isoprostanes are not an inevitable consequence of neurodege
neration and suggest that increased brain oxidative damage may occur early
in the course of AD.