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Detection of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)‐type glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and its mRNA in human lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Riol Hélène,
Tardy Marcienne,
Rolland Bernadette,
Lévesque Georges,
Ven Murthy M.R.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19970401)48:1<53::aid-jnr5>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - glial fibrillary acidic protein , gfap stain , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , astrocyte , gene expression , transcription (linguistics) , gene , central nervous system , immunohistochemistry , immunology , biochemistry , endocrinology , linguistics , philosophy
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astroglial marker, has been detected in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) in a shorter version and its mRNA in a longer form (β‐type) than the brain α‐type. To determine the characteristics of the GFAP gene expression in nonneural cells, we have investigated its in vivo transcription and translation products in human lymphocytes. Using RT‐PCR, we demonstrate that the GFAP gene is transcribed in these cells. Most or all of the mRNA resulting from this transcription was longer than the brain‐type at its 5′ end and thus may correspond to the β‐type. In addition, immunoblotting of lymphocyte extracts with a monoclonal antibody revealed a 41 KDa fragment instead of the 50 KDa expected from brain GFAP. These results suggest that GFAP expression in lymphocytes is preferentially of the PNS β‐type giving rise to longer mRNA and shorter protein. However, compared to two other astroglial mRNAs (S‐100β and aldolase C) which were synthesized in significant amounts in lymphocytes, GFAP mRNA was detected in minute amounts representing 0.03% of the brain level. This low expression may subserve a special role in lymphocytes since it is translated. J. Neurosci. Res. 48: 53–62, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.