Clinical Trial: In-situ Cytokines Expression in the CNS in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: In-situ Cytokines Expression in the CNS in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Brief Summary: The investigators aim at exploring the differential/topographical in-situ expression of cytokines in the central nervous system (CNS) of patients who died with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using archived histopathology slides and residual paraffin blocks from autopsied cases. Previous studies from the investigators and other groups showed that inflammatory cytokines are implicated in several neurological affections, particularly neurodegenerative conditions. However, in-situ cytokine expression has never been studied so far in ALS. The investigators wanted to see if these neuro-mediators are involved in the neuromolecular chain/cascade underlying ALS.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Brugmann University Hospital

Current Primary Outcome:

• in situ cytokine detection: interleukin 18 [ Time Frame: retrospective study performed on archived paraffin blocks, autopsies performed between 2000 and 2005 ]
  IHC detection on histopathology sections of paraffin embedded brain tissue.
• in situ cytokine detection: interleukin 1 [ Time Frame: retrospective study performed on archived paraffin blocks, autopsies performed between 2000 and 2005 ]
  IHC detection on histopathology sections of paraffin embedded brain tissue.
• in situ cytokine detection: interleukin 6 [ Time Frame: retrospective study performed on archived paraffin blocks, autopsies performed between 2000 and 2005 ]
  IHC detection on histopathology sections of paraffin embedded brain tissue.
• in situ cytokine detection:TNF-a [ Time Frame: retrospective study performed on archived paraffin blocks, autopsies performed between 2000 and 2005 ]
  IHC detection on histopathology sections of paraffin embedded brain tissue.

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Brugmann University Hospital

Dates:
Date Received: October 20, 2015
Date Started: October 2012
Date Completion:
Last Updated: October 20, 2015
Last Verified: October 2015