GFAP

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein. The protein is the smallest (8 nm) of the intermediate filament proteins with a molecular weight of about 51 kDa. In the central nervous system, GFAP is expressed in astrocytes and ependymal cells but not in other glial cells. However, immature oligodendrocytes and immature choroid plexus cells may be GFAP positive. In the peripheral nervous system enteric Schwann cells and satellite cells of human sensory ganglia express GFAP. Outside the nervous system, GFAP is seen in myoepithelial cells and chondroblasts, in the former coexpressed with cytokeratin, in the latter coexpressed with vimentin.

Astrocytoma, ependymoma, glioblastoma, and oligodendroglioma are almost always positive. Plexus carcinoma, ganglioglioma and primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNET: neuroblastoma a.o.) express GFAP to a varying extent. Schwannoma and neurofibroma frequently express GFAP. Chondroma, chondrosarcoma and pleomorphic adenoma are also GFAP positive in most cases. A few carcinomas (especially from lung and breast) may express GFAP. in paraganglioma GFAP may be detected in sustentacular cells.

Classification of intracranial tumours: identification of glial tumours and of glial differentiation in primitive tumours.

Brain.

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