Neuropeptide-converting enzymes in cerebrospinal fluid: activities increased in pain from herniated lumbar dis, but not from coxarthrosis.

We measured activities of dynorphin-converting enzyme (DCE), substance P endopeptidase (SPE) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 13 patients with rhizopathic pain from an herniated lumbar disc, in 9 patients with pain from coxarthrosis and in 11 control patients without pain. In the patients with disc hernia and coxarthrosis, another sample of CSF was analyzed 3-12 months after treatment, when pain had subsided. The DCE activity in the patients was higher than that in both the control patients and the patients with pain from coxarthrosis (nociceptive pain). Similarly, the activity of SPE was lower in the patients with herniated lumbar disc than in controls and in the patients with coxarthrosis. After treatment, the difference in activity compared to controls was lower, but still significant in patients with herniated discs. The ACE activity did not differ from controls in patients with ischialgia, while it was increased in patients with coxarthrosis. This increase also remained after arthroplasty with pain relief. In conclusion, measurements of neuropeptides may be useful for evaluating neuropathic pain.

[1]  C. Post,et al.  Dynorphin-converting enzyme in human cerebrospinal fluid A negative correlation between activity and levels of prodynorphin derived opioid peptides , 1994, Regulatory Peptides.

[2]  T. Meuser,et al.  Prävalenz und Charakteristik neuropathischer Schmerzen bei malignen Erkrankungen , 1992, Der Schmerz.

[3]  R. Holmdahl,et al.  Decreased neuropeptide-converting enzyme activities in cerebrospinal fluid during acute but not chronic phases of collagen induced arthritis in rats , 1992, Brain Research.

[4]  F. Nyberg,et al.  A comparison of human lung, brain, CSF and plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme with regard to neuropeptide metabolism. , 1992, Biochemistry International.

[5]  L. Terenius,et al.  Neuropeptide converting enzyme activities in CSF of low back pain patients , 1990, Pain.

[6]  R. Dubner,et al.  Enhancement of dynorphin gene expression in spinal cord following experimental inflammation: stimulus specificity, behavioral parameters and opioid receptor binding , 1988, Pain.

[7]  A. Panconesi,et al.  Enkephalinase and angiotensin converting enzyme activities in human venous and arterial plasma , 1986, Neuropeptides.

[8]  L. Terenius,et al.  Endopeptidase in human cerebrospinal fluid which cleaves proenkephalin B opioid peptides at consecutive basic amino acids. , 1985, Biochemical and biophysical research communications.

[9]  L. Terenius,et al.  Characterization of substance P(1-7) and (1-8) generating enzyme in human cerebrospinal fluid. , 1984, Biochemical and biophysical research communications.

[10]  L. Terenius,et al.  Characterization of electrophoretically separable endorphins in human CSF , 1983, Brain Research.

[11]  J. Silberring,et al.  Dynorphin converting enzyme in the rat spinal cord. Decreased activities during acute phase of adjuvant induced arthritis. , 1992, Life sciences.

[12]  L. Terenius,et al.  Long-term high frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (hi-TNS) in chronic pain. Clinical response and effects on CSF-endorphins, monoamine metabolites, substance P-like immunoreactivity (SPLI) and pain measures. , 1985, Journal of psychosomatic research.