Glial fiber acidic protein

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Glial fiber acidic protein
Properties of human protein
Mass / length primary structure 432 amino acids
Isoforms 3
Identifier
Gene name GFAP
External IDs

GFAP immunofluorescence : astrocytes are marked here

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (Abbr. GFAP of Engl. G LiAl f ibrillary a cidic p rotein) is a protein , which as the main constituent of the intermediate filaments in the cytoplasm of glial cells (particularly astrocytes ) in the central nervous system occurs. The molecular mass of human GFAP is 49,883  Daltons . The function has not yet been fully clarified, presumably it controls the cell shape and enables the mobility of the astrocytes.

Within the central nervous system (CNS) GFAP occurs predominantly in astrocytes (also in certain stem cells of the CNS) and can therefore be used with some certainty as a marker for astrocytes. However, GFAP is also expressed in some cell types outside the CNS (e.g. Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves). Because it is found in astrocytes, GFAP plays an essential role as a marker in the diagnosis of brain tumors. It is typically found in glial tumors (e.g., astrocytomas , glioblastomas , ependymomas, and a number of other glial tumors).

In Alexander syndrome ( hyaline panneuropathy , dysmyelinogenic leukodystrophy ) there is a mutation of the gene responsible for synthesis on chromosome 17 .

Glial fiber acidic protein is a promising marker for concussions. When a concussion occurs, GFAP is released into the blood through the blood-brain barrier. As a result, measurable concentrations in the blood can be found for up to a week after a concussion.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. L. Papa, MR Zonfrillo, J. Ramirez, S. Silvestri, P. Giordano, CF Braga, CN Tan, NJ Ameli, M. Lopez, MK Mittal: Performance of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Detecting Traumatic Intracranial Lesions on Computed Tomography in Children and Youth With Mild Head Trauma. In: Academic Emergency Medicine. Volume 22, number 11, November 2015, pp. 1274-1282, doi : 10.1111 / acem.12795 , PMID 26469937 , PMC 4639419 (free full text).