Introduction: Evidence-based information about cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of biomarkers in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is limited.
Methods: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), optineurin (OPTN), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), angiogenin (ANG), and TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunoassay in the CSF of 54 patients with sporadic ALS and 32 controls in a case-control study design.
Results: CSF levels of VEGF (P = .014) and ANG (P = .009) were decreased, whereas VEGFR2 was higher (P = .002) in patients with ALS than in controls. TDP-43 positively correlated with MCP-1 (P = .003), VEGF (P < .001), and VEGFR2 (P < .001) in patients with ALS.
Discussion: Our findings suggest possible utility of VEGF, VEGFR2, and ANG as biomarkers for use in ALS treatment trials.
Keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, angiogenesis, cerebrospinal fluid, muscle wasting, neuromuscular disorder.
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