Assessment of trimethylamine-N-oxide at the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier: Results from 290 lumbar punctures

Authors

  • Dietmar Enko Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, 8036 Graz, Austria; Tel: +43 316 385-13145; Fax: +43 316 385-13430; E-mail: enko.dietmar@gmx.at; Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, General Hospital Hochsteiermark, Leoben, Austria
  • Sieglinde Zelzer Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
  • Tobias Niedrist Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
  • Sandra Holasek Department of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, Otto Loewi Research Center, Graz, Austria
  • Andreas Baranyi Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
  • Wolfgang J. Schnedl Practice for General Internal Medicine, Bruck/Mur, Austria
  • Markus Herrmann Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
  • Andreas Meinitzer Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2020-2763

Keywords:

biomarkers, blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, trimethylamine-N-oxide

Abstract

Recently, the microbiome-derived trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) was shown to be present in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, data on the potential of TMAO crossing the blood-CSF barrier are still lacking. This retrospective study aimed at investigating possible associations between the CSF/serum albumin (QALB) and TMAO (QTMAO) quotient and evaluating QTMAO values in individuals with and without blood-CSF barrier dysfunction. A total of 290 patients, who underwent diagnostic lumbar puncture with QALB and QTMAO determination, were evaluated. Serum and CSF TMAO measurements were performed on a tandem mass spectrometry SCIEX QTRAP 4500 (Applied Biosystems, Framingham, MA, USA) coupled with an Agilent 1260 Infinity HPLC system (Agilent Technologies Santa Clara, CA, USA). Serum and CSF albumin were measured on the Atellica® NEPH 630 system (Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany). CSF TMAO levels were positively correlated with serum TMAO levels (ρ = 0.709, p < 0.001). The QALB was significantly associated with the QTMAO (ß-coefficient = 0.312; p < 0.001). A total of 117 patients with blood-CSF barrier dysfunction had significantly higher median (Q1 – Q3) QTMAO values (4.7 (2.8 – 7.5) vs. 3.8 (2.5 – 5.7) x 10-1, p = 0.002) compared to 173 individuals with normal blood-CSF barrier function. CSF and serum TMAO concentrations were significantly associated in 290 CSF/serum pairs from lumbar punctures of clinical routine. QALB showed a relevant influence on QTMAO. Present results indicate that TMAO may cross the blood-CSF barrier.

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Published

2020-09-09

How to Cite

Enko, D., Zelzer, S., Niedrist, T., Holasek, S., Baranyi, A., Schnedl, W. J. ., … Meinitzer, A. (2020). Assessment of trimethylamine-N-oxide at the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier: Results from 290 lumbar punctures. EXCLI Journal, 19, 1275–1281. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2020-2763

Issue

Vol. 19 (2020)

Section

Original articles

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Dietmar Enko, Sieglinde Zelzer, Tobias Niedrist, Sandra Holasek, Andreas Baranyi, Wolfgang J. Schnedl, Markus Herrmann, Andreas Meinitzer

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