Astrocyte marker GFAP in gliocytes of the peripheral nervous system

The study of peripheral nervous system glial cells is an actual problem of modern neurobiology. The purpose of this work was to summarize our own and published data on the distribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in peripheral nervous system (PNS) glial cells. The features of GFAP expression in glial cells of the enteric nervous system, dorsal root ganglion and peripheral nerve were examined. A comparative study of different populations of PNS gliocytes led to the conclusion that the intermediate filament protein GFAP is distributed differently in them. Analysis of the literature showed that despite the fact that this protein is widely used as a molecular marker of glial activation, there is still no understanding of the exact mechanisms of GFAP participation in the glial reactive response. The described features of GFAP+gliocytes from different parts of the PNS demonstrate the functional polymorphism of this protein. Its ability to be expressed in peripheral nervous system gliocytes in response to injury requires further research.