Increased acidic fibroblast growth factor concentrations in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), also called FGF-1, which influences the proliferation and differentiation of various cell types in vitro, was originally isolated from neural tissue. It is released from the ependymal cells of the cerebral third ventricle into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). FGF-1 promotes the survival of neurons. Reactive astrocytes express FGF-1 in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). By comparing the CSF proteome of patients with AD and normal controls it might be possible to identify proteins that have a role in AD. Because CSF is in contact with the extracellular space of the brain, modifications in the brain biochemistry could be reflected in the CSF. The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of serum and CSF FGF-1 in patients with AD. This study consisted of 64 CSF samples, from patients with AD (n=32) and those without (normal controls) (n=32). The level of CSF and serum FGF-1 in patients with AD was higher than in patients without AD. We conclude that FGF-1 is a constant component of human serum and CSF and that FGF-1 may be involved in the pathophysiology of AD.