GFAP

Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) is the major protein found in astrocytes and its expression is evidence of astroglial origin and differentiation. Gliomas are the most common cerebral neoplasm in adults and include astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas and glioblastomas. It can also be demonstrated in ependymal cells, ependymomas, subependyomas, glioblastomas, mixed central nervous system neoplasms and gangliomas. It is detected in immature but not mature oligodendrocytes and neurons. Anti-GFAP antibodies do not cross-react with neurons, fibroblasts or muscle cells. Anti-GFAP antibodies are useful in differentiating primary gliomas from metastatic lesions in the brain and for documenting astrocytic differentiation in tumors outside the central nervous system.