TY - JOUR
T1 - ''Ex vivo'' release of eicosanoid from human brain tissue
T2 - Its relevance in the development of brain edema
AU - Gaetani, P.
AU - Rodriguez y Baena, R.
AU - Marzatico, F.
AU - Lombardi, D.
AU - Knerich, R.
AU - Paoletti, P.
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - The specific mechanism underlying the genesis of vasogenic brain edema is still debated: the role of arachidonic acid is considered extremely important, as it is a possible activator of self-maintaining reactions enhancing the release of vasoactive and cytotoxic compounds. The relationship between arachidonic acid metabolism and brain edema has been studied primarily in brain tissue samples or in the extracellular fluid, whereas the residual capacity of perilesional tissue to synthesize and release eicosanoids has not been investigated. In the present study, perilesional samples of brain tissue were available from 4 patients operated on for brain metastasis, from 8 patients who had malignant neuroepithelial tumors, from 4 with meningiomas, and from 5 with subarachnoid hemorrhage. A brain edema index was calculated from the preoperative computed tomographic scan. The ''ex vivo'' method allowed determination of the residual capacity of endogenous arachidonic acid metabolism. The edema index is significantly higher in patients with brain metastasis (6.5 ± 0.8) and neuroepithelial tumors (3.6 ± 0.2) than in those with meningiomas (1.5 ± 0.06), subarachnoid hemorrhage (1.7 ± 0.18), and in controls. In patients with metastatic and neuroepithelial tumors there is a significant correlation between peritumoral brain edema and the capacity to synthesize leukotriene C4 (P <0.05); the capacity to synthesize leukotriene C4 is also significantly elevated after subarachnoid hemorrhage (13.91 ± 2.6 ng/ml of incubation medium) when compared with control cases (5.56 ± 0.91). The capacity to synthesize prostacyclin is significantly higher in patients with brain metastasis than in those with neuroepithelial tumors and meningiomas (P <0.05). The ex vivo capacity to synthesize PGD2 and PGE2 are not significantly different in each subgroup when compared with control cases. These results suggest that in perilesional brain tissue, the release of specific eicosanoids may be correlated with the extent of edema.
AB - The specific mechanism underlying the genesis of vasogenic brain edema is still debated: the role of arachidonic acid is considered extremely important, as it is a possible activator of self-maintaining reactions enhancing the release of vasoactive and cytotoxic compounds. The relationship between arachidonic acid metabolism and brain edema has been studied primarily in brain tissue samples or in the extracellular fluid, whereas the residual capacity of perilesional tissue to synthesize and release eicosanoids has not been investigated. In the present study, perilesional samples of brain tissue were available from 4 patients operated on for brain metastasis, from 8 patients who had malignant neuroepithelial tumors, from 4 with meningiomas, and from 5 with subarachnoid hemorrhage. A brain edema index was calculated from the preoperative computed tomographic scan. The ''ex vivo'' method allowed determination of the residual capacity of endogenous arachidonic acid metabolism. The edema index is significantly higher in patients with brain metastasis (6.5 ± 0.8) and neuroepithelial tumors (3.6 ± 0.2) than in those with meningiomas (1.5 ± 0.06), subarachnoid hemorrhage (1.7 ± 0.18), and in controls. In patients with metastatic and neuroepithelial tumors there is a significant correlation between peritumoral brain edema and the capacity to synthesize leukotriene C4 (P <0.05); the capacity to synthesize leukotriene C4 is also significantly elevated after subarachnoid hemorrhage (13.91 ± 2.6 ng/ml of incubation medium) when compared with control cases (5.56 ± 0.91). The capacity to synthesize prostacyclin is significantly higher in patients with brain metastasis than in those with neuroepithelial tumors and meningiomas (P <0.05). The ex vivo capacity to synthesize PGD2 and PGE2 are not significantly different in each subgroup when compared with control cases. These results suggest that in perilesional brain tissue, the release of specific eicosanoids may be correlated with the extent of edema.
KW - Brain edema
KW - Brain tumors
KW - Eicosanoids
KW - Leukotrienes
KW - Subarachnoid hemorrhage
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M3 - Article
C2 - 2067608
AN - SCOPUS:0025758304
VL - 28
SP - 853
EP - 858
JO - Neurosurgery
JF - Neurosurgery
SN - 0148-396X
IS - 6
ER -