%0 Journal Article
%T Review of "Proteins of the Cerebrospinal Fluid" (2nd Edition) by Edward J. Thompson
%A James R Connor
%J Fluids and Barriers of the CNS
%D 2007
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1743-8454-4-1
%X My review of this book by Dr. Thompson is written in the context of the reason I was drawn to this book and agreed to read the book and provide a review. I was drawn to the book based on its title because my research group was about to make a significant commitment to proteomic analyses of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in both animal models and human disease states. I expected that, although I was familiar with CSF and the proteins that I had been studying for many years, this book would provide a foundation and reference for me and the postdoctoral fellows and students in my laboratory as we expanded our studies into the CSF. The forward indicated that the book "makes for an encyclopedia type of book for laboratory directors, experimentalists, etc". Therefore I was looking for a book on proteomics of the CSF and perhaps a state of the art assessment of protein profiling in the CSF. The first chapter of the book, a historical perspective on CSF proteins, mentions mostly IgG and associated methodologies. In Chapter 6 the discussion on pros and cons of qualitative versus quantitative analysis, a key issue in the evolving world of proteomics, is focused on IgG as the "central issue' in the studies of CSF proteins. In addition, the options for quantitative approaches do not provide much information on the strengths of ELISAs or even radioimmunoassays. The protocols are somewhat dated but in a historical context; a reasonable resource. Thus, this book is predominantly focused on immunoglobulins in the CSF with a particular focus on the oligoclonal IgG bands in multiple sclerosis. In the latter sense the book is an excellent resource and outstanding review of the field and the new investigator wishing to study immunoglobulin in the CSF can benefit from the comments of the author as a leader in this area from its beginning. As a resource itself, the book has 1,322 references. The reader interested in the broader topic of proteins in the CSF may find this book does not meet
%U http://www.fluidsbarrierscns.com/content/4/1/1