GDNF but not BDNF is increased in cerebrospinal fluid in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Cerebrospinal fluid from 15 patients with ALS and 11 controls without neuro logical disease were analysed for levels of the neurotrophic factors BDNF a nd GDNF. Analyses were performed using a sensitive sandwich immunoassay (EL ISA). There was no significant difference in BDNF levels between the ALS pa tients and the control subjects studied. Measurable revels of GDNF were fou nd in 12 out of 15 ALS samples. GDNF was not detected in CSF from any of th e control subjects. The finding of increased CSF levels of GDNF in ALS comp ared to controls, together with earlier findings of increased expression of GDNF mRNA in muscle in ALS, indicates that the capacity to synthesize GDNF is enhanced in this disorder. NeuroReport 11:1781-1783 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.