Novel microtubule-associated protein-2 isoform is expressed early in human oligodendrocyte maturation

Bridget Shafit-Zagardo, Peter Davies, Julia Rockwood, Yvonne Kress, Sunhee C. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have identified a developmentally regulated, oligodendrocyte-specific protein, designated microtubule-associated protein-2 expressing exon 13 (MAP-2+13), in the human central nervous system (CNS). Monoclonal antibodies directed against MAP-2+13 labeled oligodendrocytes in the white matter of human fetal spinal cord. Double-label immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, and immunoelectron microscopy localized MAP-2+13 to the soma and extending processes of fetal oligodendrocytes, but not to the myelin sheath. The immunoreactivity was throughout the perikarya. Ultrastructural examination of the fetal myelin sheaths showed them to be thin and not fully compacted, indicating that myelination was in progress. There was no overlap in staining of GFAP+ astrocytes and MAP-2+13+ oligodendrocytes. MAP-2+13 was also expressed in intermediate filament-negative 'radial glia' extending from the central canal to the subpial surface. In the mature CNS, MAP-2+13 also marked cells of oligodendroglial morphology, but these cells were rare. These finding demonstrate that in the human CNS, MAP-2+13 is a novel protein transiently expressed in cells of oligodendroglial lineage. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)233-245
Number of pages13
JournalGlia
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2000

Keywords

  • Human fetal spinal cord
  • MAP-2
  • Myelination
  • Oligodendrocytes
  • Oligodendroglial precursors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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