Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is secreted within the central nervous system and fills the ventricles, subarachnoid space of the brain, and spine. The function of CSF is to protect the brain from physical shocks. Additionally, CSF plays an important role in filtering nutrients and circulating chemicals in the blood through active transport or bulk flow (from the extracellular fluid in the brain to the subarachnoid space and finally into the venous blood vessels and lymphatic system) as well as in waste management by removing organic acids. Human cerebrospinal fluid is known to be rich in small molecule biomarkers for neurodegenerative and neurological disorders. Although CSF is not easily accessible, its relatively simple metabolism and potential importance to central nervous system diseases make it particularly important in biomedical research and clinical chemistry.
The composition of cerebrospinal fluid rarely changes and is continuously secreted, serving to maintain a stable environment within the brain. Therefore, analyzing the CSF metabolome can provide biochemical clues for central nervous system diseases such as brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. High-throughput metabolomics technologies available for CSF analysis include 1H-NMR spectroscopy, LC-MS, GC-MS, DFI-MS/MS, and ICP-MS. CSF is rich in trace metals, which play crucial roles in enzyme function and many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other related diseases. As the best technology for characterizing metal elements in biological samples, ICP-MS can be used for the quantitative analysis of trace metals in CSF. ICP-MS is effectively used for the identification and quantification of a large number of trace minerals. The DFI-MS/MS method provides a quantitative platform for 67 unique compounds that cannot be identified by GC-MS, LC-MS, and NMR.
As of 2008, the human cerebrospinal fluid metabolome comprised at least 308 metabolites that were fully identified and quantified, of which 23% (70 compounds) were conventionally identified by combining NMR, GC-MS, and LC-MS. By 2011, at least 476 metabolic products were fully identified and quantified in human cerebrospinal fluid.
Non-targeted Metabolomics of Cerebrospinal Fluid
The typical volume of each cerebrospinal fluid sample used for metabolite analysis ranges from 0.5 to 1.0 ml. CSF samples should be stored in a -80°C freezer. Due to the instability of CSF metabolites, repeated freeze-thaw cycles and higher storage temperatures (such as 4°C) should be avoided.
Biotec Pack BioTechnology offers a complete system for separation, characterization, identification, and quantification in metabolomics analysis. Our non-targeted metabolomics analysis is known for excellent stability and reproducibility, high sensitivity, and ultra-sensitivity. The Biotec Pack metabolomics analysis platform provides you with reliable, fast, and cost-effective non-targeted metabolomics services for cerebrospinal fluid. Feel free to contact us for consultation!
