Elevated nitric oxide levels in childhood brain tumors.

作者信息

Kao Chung-Lan, Chiou Shih-Hwa, Chen Hong-Shin, Ho Donald Ming-Tak, Chen Chieh-Fu, Ho Larry L-T, Lee Meng-Jer, Wong Tai-Tong

机构信息

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, Republic of China.

出版信息

Childs Nerv Syst. 2003 Nov;19(10-11):744-9. doi: 10.1007/s00381-003-0796-z. Epub 2003 Sep 11.

OBJECTIVES

One of the fundamental aspects of nitric oxide (NO) is the regulation of the inflammatory processes involved in neuronal apoptosis. Expressions of NO and NO synthase (NOS) are considered to be involved in brain tissue injuries and brain tumors. The purpose of our study was to investigate the roles of NO and inducible-form NOS (iNOS) in the pathogenesis of brain tumors.

METHODS

NO levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 36 brain tumor patients were detected utilizing the NO-chemiluminescence method. Deparaffinized tissue sections were immunostained for the presence of antibodies against iNOS and for apoptosis using the TUNEL stain. The results were compared with 10 control patients (with epilepsy and hydrocephalus).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of NO and iNOS activities may induce immune responses and neurotoxicities. This preliminary study revealed elevated NO and NOS activities with an increased amount of apoptotic processes in brain tumor tissues, which may indicate the possible roles of NO in the formation of brain tumors.