title: Identification of cell-surface antigens present exclusively on a sub-population of astrocytes in human foetal brain cultures.
abstract: We have examined two monoclonal antibodies (McAbs; coded MI/N1 and 308) raised to human neuroblastoma cells for cell-type-specific reactivity in cultures of human neural tissues and in frozen sections of intact primate spinal cord. In dual-label immunofluorescence assays using established cell-type antigenic markers as positive controls, the reactivity patterns obtained with both McAbs MI/N1 and 308 were consistent with the detection of astrocyte-specific cell-surface antigens. No reactivity of the antibodies with other human neural cell-types, or with human muscle cells was detected. In cultures of human foetal brain a sub-population of astrocytic cells remained unlabeled by antibodies MI/N1 and 308. The significance of the latter observation has not yet been defined but may represent a developmental or functional division within the astrocytic cell lineage.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D001921:Brain; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005333:Fetus; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D013744:Tetanus Toxin