Characterization of a transmissible growth-promoting agent derived from CSF of schizophrenic patients which is active on human neuroblastoma cells.

A growth-promoting agent for the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH(EP) (SH-EP) has been detected in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) derived from schizophrenic patients. Following treatment with the CSF, a number of properties of the SH-EP cells changed permanently. These included an accelerated rate of growth, an increased cell density at confluence, a change of cell shape, and an increased ability to form colonies in soft agar.