Neurocysticercosis presents an increase in proteins in the CSF, this is partly cellularity due to flow obstruction, but it is also due to other causes, sometimes we have seen rupture of cysts, granuloma, pachymeningitis, obstruction of the bypass valve by sediment.
Can there be proteins of the cysticercus involved?
Has anyone studied the CSF proteins of neurocysticercosis?
Dr Lopez Arcos,
Please tell me if I understand your question correctly. Are you saying that upon biopsy/necropsy, you have observed 'hypercellularity' (increased number of cells in the CSF) in patients (or experimental animals) with neurocysticercosis. That while this can be partially explained due simply to the fact that cysts narrow available intercellular and ventricular space for normal CSF content to occupy, you believe some of the hypercellularity/hyperplasia is a direct result of a proteins produced by the parasite. This would probably be due to an immune reaction to these proteins, with granuloma and accumulation of immune cells and inflammation. Alternatively, you think that these may actually be cestode cells or proteins in the CSF that you are observing?
The interaction of host and parasite here are very interesting. Several Taenia protein antigen sites have been identified and diagnostic antibody kits exist against these proteins. An assay against these proteins may inform the make-up and origin of the hypercullarity you are observing. A histological assay would be especially intersting, if possible.
See the articles below:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005112/
https://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12974-014-0210-7
Hope that helps. Please follow up and let me know what you think.
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