Summary
Eighty glial and non-glial brain tumors have been studied to date using an immunologically specific and highly sensitive method of staining GFA protein which is applicable to formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue. Eight of these cases have been described and illustrated in some detail. GFA protein was present in all astrocytes and astrocytomas studied and in a proportion of ependymal cells and ependymomas. Some tumor cells have been demonstrated by this method to be glial despite the complete lack of blue fibrillar staining with PTAH and the absence of all morphological similarity to glial cells. In such cases the demonstration of GFA protein by this method has been valuable in establishing a diagnosis. In addition to its diagnostic value in specific cases, the method promises to shed light on unsolved problems of tumor cytogenesis.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bignami, A., Dahl, D.: Differentiation of Astrocytes in the Cerebellar Cortex and the Pyramidal Tracts of the Newborn Rat. An Immunofluorescence Study with Antibodies to a Protein Specific to Astrocytes. Brain Res.49, 393–402 (1973)
Bignami, A., Dahl, D.: Astrocyte Specific Protein and Neuroglial Differentiation: An Immunofluorescence Study with Antibodies to the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein. J. Comp. Neurol.153, 27–37 (1974a)
Bignami, A., Dahl, D.: Astrocyte Specific Protein and Radial Glia in the Cerebral Cortex of the Newborn Rat. Nature252, 55–56 (1974b)
Bignami, A., Eng, L. F., Dahl, D., Uyeda, C. T.: Localization of the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Astrocytes by Immunofluorescence. Brain Res.43, 429–435 (1972)
Bissell, M. G., Rubinstein, L. J., Bignami, A., Herman, M. M.: Characteristics of the Rat C6 Glioma Maintained in Organ Culture Systems. Production of the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in the Absence of Gliofibrillogenesis. Brain Res.82, 77–89 (1974)
Bruni, J. E.: Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy of the Ependymal Lining of the Third Ventricle. Can. J. Neurol. Sci.1, 59–74 (1974)
Deck, J. H., Eng, L. F., Bigbee, J.: A Preliminary Study of Glioma Morphology Using the Peroxidase Antiperoxidase Immunohistological Method for Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol.35, 362 (1976)
Duffy, P. E., Graf, L., Rapport, M. M.: Identification of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein by the Immunoperoxidase Method in Human Brain Tumors. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol.36, 645–652 (1977)
Eng, L. F., Kosek, J. C.: Light and Electron Microscopic Localization of the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and S 100 Protein by Immunoenzymatic Techniques. Trans. Am. Soc. Neurochem.5, 160 (1974)
Eng, L. F., Vanderhaegan, J. J., Bignami, A., Gerstl, B.: An Acidic Protein Isolated from Fibrillary Astrocytes. Brain Res.28, 351–354 (1971)
Horvath, E., Kovacs, K.: Ultrastructural Classification of Pituitary Adenomas. Can. J. Neurol. Sci.3, 9–21 (1976)
Ludwin, S. K., Kosek, J. C., Eng, L. F.: The Topographical Distribution of S 100 and GFA Proteins in the Adult Rat Brain. J. Comp. Neurol.165, 197–208 (1976)
Rubinstein, L. J., Herman, M. M.: Studies on the Differentiation of Human Experimental Gliomas in Organ Culture Systems. Recent Results in Cancer Research, ed. J. Hekmatpanah, pp. 35–51 New York: Springer 1975
Schachner, M., Hedley-Whyte, E. T., Hall, D. W., Schoonmaker, G., Bignami, A.: Ultrastructural Localization of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Mouse Cerebellum by Immunoperoxidase Labelling. J. Cell. Biol.75, 67–73 (1977)
Sternberger, L. A., Hardy, P. H., Cuculis, J. J., Mayer, H. G.: The Unlabelled Antibody Enzyme Method of Immunohistochemistry. J. Histochem. Cytochem.18, 315–333 (1970)
Taylor, C. R., Burns, J.: The Demonstration of Plasma Cells and Other Immunoglobulin Containing Cells in Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded Tissues Using Peroxidase Labelled Antibodies. J. Clin. Path.27, 14–20 (1974)
Uyeda, C. T., Eng, L. F., Bignami, A.: Immunological Study of the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein. Brain Res.37, 81–89 (1972)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported in part by VA Research Grant, MRIS 2390.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Deck, J.H.N., Eng, L.F., Bigbee, J. et al. The role of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the diagnosis of central nervous system tumors. Acta Neuropathol 42, 183–190 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690355
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690355