Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein with a molecular weight of approximately 50 kDa. GFAP is widely recognized as a marker for astrocytes, as it is primarily expressed in these cells within the central nervous system. It is thought to play a role in the structural organization of astrocytes. Previous studies have also shown that it is essential for the proliferation of reactive astrocytes and the formation of glial scars. GFAP expression is known to increase under such pathological conditions compared to the normal state.
Fujifilm Wako's "Anti GFAP, Monoclonal Antibody(MO389)" is a mouse monoclonal antibody against GFAP. It is suitable for astrocyte staining in both immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein with a molecular weight of approximately 50 kDa. It was initially isolated from brain lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis1). GFAP is widely recognized as a marker for astrocytes, as it is primarily expressed in these cells within the central nervous system. Additionally, GFAP expression has been reported in other cell types, such as neural stem cells in the hippocampus.
GFAP is thought to play a role in the structural organization of astrocytes. Previous studies have also shown that it is essential for the proliferation of reactive astrocytes and the formation of glial scars2-3). Reactive astrocytes are cells that undergo morphological changes—such as process elongation and cellular hypertrophy—in response to central nervous system injury caused by trauma or neurodegenerative diseases. GFAP expression is known to increase under such pathological conditions compared to the normal state2-3). Moreover, circulating GFAP has attracted attention as a biomarker that reflects neuroinflammatory states in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.