Increased cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of soluble Fas (CD95/Apo-1) in hydrocephalus

Background and aims-The ventricular enlargement observed in children with c hronically raised intracranial pressure (ICP) causes a secondary loss of br ain tissue. In animal studies of hydrocephalus, programmed cell death (apop tosis) has been found as a major mechanism of neuronal injury. One of the r egulators of the apoptotic cell death programme is the receptor mediated Fa s/Fas ligand interaction. Methods-The apoptosis regulating cytokines soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble F as ligand (sFasL) were studied in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 31 hydro cephalic children undergoing shunt surgery for symptomatic hydrocephalus an d 18 controls. Results-High concentrations of sFas were observed in children with hydrocep halus (median 252 ng/ml); in controls sFas was below the detection limit (0 .5 ng/ml). sFasL was undetectable in all but one sample. Conclusion-High concentrations of sFas in the CSF of children with hydrocep halus suggest intrinsic sFas production, potentially antagonising pressure mediated Fas activation.