Background: The study of proteins with altered production in postmortem cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compared with antemortem CSF may improve the understanding of biochemical changes that occur immediately after death.
Methods: Two CSF samples (1 antemortem and 1 postmortem) were collected from 7 patients and analyzed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. An analysis was also performed to identify proteins that showed a correlation between concentration change and postmortem interval. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to identify the proteins.
Results: Fifty-four protein spots were identified that showed a consistent and significant change in concentration in the postmortem CSF of all 7 patients (>3.5-fold, P <0.01). The proteins in these spots derive from a variety of functional groups, including cytoskeletal proteins, enzymes involved in glycolysis, and proteins that prevent oxidative stress. Fourteen protein spots were found to have an increase in production that correlated with postmortem interval.
Conclusions: Changes in protein production of postmortem vs antemortem CSF were studied. The proteins observed to change production in the postmortem CSF include several proteins previously observed as potential stroke biomarkers.