Combined analysis of the glia secretome and the CSF proteome: neuroinflammation and novel biomarkers

Glial cells in the CNS are likely to communicate with other glial cells and neurons through secreted proteins. Glia-derived proteins also participate in neuroinflammation, which is a major component of neurodegenerative disease. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the biological fluid that best reflects the physiological or pathological conditions of the CNS. Proteins secreted from glial cells are often detected in the CSF. One of the major cellular sources of the highly abundant CSF proteins is glia. Combined analysis of secreted proteins of glial cells and CSF proteins of patients with inflammatory CNS disorders can provide new knowledge to the field of glia biology and neuron glia interaction. The comparative analysis of the glia secretome and the CSF proteome would also facilitate the targeted proteomics-based discovery of new biomarkers for brain disease. Omics and systems biology approaches to glia and neuroinflammation will be a focus of future investigation and will enable an integrative understanding of inflammatory CNS disorders, such as neurodegenerative disease.