GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein)

GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) is a member of the intermediate filament protein family which includes desmin, peripherin and vimentin. It is a major protein component in multiple sclerosis plaques but is found to be up-regulated in other instances where there has been damage or the occurrence of disease to the nervous system. GFAP is expressed in cells of astrocytic lineage, peripheral ganglia, and non-myelinating Schwann cells. In addition, neural stem cells also express GFAP. GFAP runs on SDS-PAGE gels at ~55kD, usually associated with lower molecule weight bands which are thought to...