Different expression of human GFAP promoter-derived GFP in different subsets of astrocytes in the mouse brain

Younghye Moon, Hyun Jung Kim, Joo Yeon Kim, Hyun Kim, Woon Ryoung Kim, Woong Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of human glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter (hGFAP) have been utilized for in vivo labeling of astrocytes. Although it has been considered that virtually all astrocytes express GFP in this transgenic mouse, we found that different subsets of GFAP-expressing astrocytes express considerably different levels of GFP in the adult brain. Astrocytes in the spinal cord, the molecular layer of thecerebellum, meninges, white matter, corpus callosum and blood vessels exhibited strong GFP, whereas subsets of astrocytes associated with granule cells in the cerebellum and dentate gyrus did not or only marginally exhibited GFP. We also found that a small subset of GFP-expressing cells in the periglomeruli of the olfactory bulb did not express GFAP immunoreactivity. Collectively, these results suggest that human GFAP promoter-derived GFP expression does not faithfully recapitulate the endogenous GFAP expression in mice, suggesting that upstream regulatory mechanisms controlling GFAP transcription are different in different populations of astrocytes, and may reflect the functional diversity of astrocytes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)268-273
Number of pages6
JournalAnimal Cells and Systems
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 Dec

Keywords

  • GFAP expression
  • GFP
  • astrocyte
  • granule cell
  • transgenic mice

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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