J Neuroimmunol 2002 Jun;127(1-2):1-12
Filipovic R, Rakic S, Zecevic N.
Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut Medical School,
263 Farmington Ave., 06030-3401, Farmington, CT, USA
It has been suggested that Golli proteins, structurally related to myelin basic proteins (MBPs), have a role in autoimmune processes.
We studied the expression of these proteins in multiple sclerosis (MS) and determined that the number of Golli-immunoreactive (ir) cells was significantly higher around lesions of chronic MS than in control white matter.
Golli proteins were expressed in the adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), activated microglia/macrophages, and some demyelinated axons around MS lesions.
Their expression in adult OPCs indicates remyelination attempts, whereas the expression in the subpopulation of microglia/macrophages suggests roles in the immune processes of MS.
In addition, Golli proteins may be markers of axonal transection, which is characteristic for MS.