The protein product of the neurofibromatosis type 1 gene is expressed at highest abundance in neurons, Schwann cells, and oligodendrocytes

Maryellen M. Daston, Heidi Scrable, Michael Nordlund, Anne K. Sturbaum, Lisa M. Nissen, Nancy Ratner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

245 Scopus citations

Abstract

von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis (NF1) is a common inherited human disease. The events leading to patient symptoms from inheritance of a defective NF1 gene are unknown. Since knowledge of the distribution of the normal NF1 gene product should improve understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, we raised antibodies against peptides coded by portions of the recently cloned human NF1 cDNA. These antibodies specifically recognize a 220 kd protein (neurofibromin) in both human and rat spinal cord. Neurofibromin is most abundant in the nervous system. Immunostaining of tissue sections indicates that neurons, oligodendrocytes, and nonmyelinating Schwann cells contain neurofibromin while astrocytes and myelinating Schwann cells do not. These results suggest a function for neurofibromin in the normal nervous system. Some NF1 disease manifestations, such as Schwann cell tumors and learning disabilities, may result from abnormalities in the cells that express neurofibromin.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)415-428
Number of pages14
JournalNeuron
Volume8
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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