Astrocyte markers

We've pulled together the most common markers for astrocytes from recent literature, so you can quickly identify the suitable marker for your experiment.

Astrocyte markers are essential for studying astrocyte subpopulations and their roles in the central nervous system (CNS). These markers help distinguish astrocyte heterogeneity across different brain regions and are crucial for understanding astrocyte biology. Astrocyte markers are also used to study astrocyte reactivity in response to CNS pathology.

What are astrocytes?

Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells that serve various functions in the central nervous system. Astrocytes help regulate blood flow and synaptic function in the brain and spinal cord. As a type of glial cell, astrocytes display diverse astrocyte morphology, and their classification as a cell type is based on their unique structural and functional characteristics. They are vital for brain development, physiology, and pathology.

GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein)

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament and major component of the astrocyte cytoskeleton1-4. GFAP expression is a hallmark of reactive astrocytes and is commonly used as a classical marker for astrocyte identification. GFAP is upregulated during astrocyte activation and in disease states such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. GFAP is also used to distinguish mature astrocytes from other glial cell types.

Human hippocampus tissue section stained with anti-GFAP (ab68428).

Figure 1. Human hippocampus tissue section stained with anti-GFAP (ab68428).

abID
Product name
Applications
Species
Clonality
Citations
ab68428
Anti-GFAP antibody [EPR1034Y] - Astrocyte Marker
Flow Cyt (Intra), ICC/IF, IHC-Fr, IHC-P, IP, WB, mIHC
Human, mouse, rat
Monoclonal
151
ab7260
Anti-GFAP antibody - Astrocyte Marker
ICC/IF, IHC (PFA fixed), IHC-P, IP, WB
Mouse, rat
Polyclonal
1393

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EAAT1/GLAST (excitatory amino acid transporter)

Excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1) is an astrocyte-specific glutamate transporter. EAAT1 is involved in regulating synaptic transmission and synapse formation, contributing to the functional characteristics of astrocytes in the central nervous system. EAAT1 is commonly used to label astrocytes and to identify astrocytes positive for this marker in brain tissue. It may also be known as glutamate aspartate Transporter (GLAST)2,4,5,6.

Rat cerebral cortex tissue sections stained with anti-EAAT1 (ab181036).

Figure 2. Rat cerebral cortex tissue sections stained with anti-EAAT1 (ab181036).

abID
Product name
Applications
Species
Clonality
Citations
ab181036
Anti-EAAT1 antibody [EPR12686]
ICC/IF, IHC-P, WB
Human, mouse, rat
Monoclonal
16
ab416
Anti-EAAT1 antibody
IHC-P, WB
Human, rat
Polyclonal
144

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EAAT2/GLT-1

Excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) is an astrocyte-specific glutamate transporter. EAAT2 gene expression shows differential expression across astrocyte subtypes, contributing to the functional diversity of astrocytes in the mouse brain. EAAT2 has many alternative names, including solute carrier family 1 member 2 (SLC1A2) and glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1)4-7.

Mouse striatum tissue sections stained with anti-EAAT2 (green) (ab205248).

Figure 3. Mouse striatum tissue sections stained with anti-EAAT2 (green) (ab205248).

abID
Product name
Applications
Species
Clonality
Citations
ab205248
Anti-EAAT2 antibody [EPR19798]
IHC-Fr, IHC-P, IP, WB
Mouse, rat
Monoclonal
13
ab41621
Anti-EAAT2 antibody
ICC, WB
Mouse, rat
Polyclonal
102

Glutamine synthetase

This enzyme is involved in the metabolism of nitrogen. In the brain, it is primarily found in astrocytes. Glutamine synthetase is highly expressed in protoplasmic astrocytes, particularly within the cell body and fine astrocyte processes. Regional differences in glutamine synthetase expression have been observed in hippocampal astrocytes and the somatosensory cortex.

Mouse cerebrum tissue sections stained with anti-glutamine synthetase (green) (ab176562).

Figure 4. Mouse cerebrum tissue sections stained with anti-glutamine synthetase (green) (ab176562).

abID
Product name
Applications
Species
Clonality
Citations
ab176562
Anti-Glutamine Synthetase antibody [EPR13022(B)]
IHC-Fr, IHC-P, WB, mIHC
Human, mouse, rat
Monoclonal
30
ab73593
Anti-Glutamine Synthetase antibody
ICC/IF, IHC-P, WB
Human, mouse, rat, marmoset
Polyclonal
103

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S100 beta

S100 beta is a member of the calcium-binding proteins family. It is also found in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and immature astrocytes. During development, S100 beta is expressed in both astrocytes and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, as well as in immature astrocytes. Alterations in S100 beta levels have been observed in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Double labeling with NG2 will distinguish the OPCs from the astrocytes.

Rat cerebrum tissue sections stained with anti-S100 beta (green) (ab52642).

Figure 5. Rat cerebrum tissue sections stained with anti-S100 beta (green) (ab52642).

abID
Product name
Applications
Species
Clonality
Citations
ab52642
Anti-S100 beta antibody [EP1576Y] - Astrocyte Marker
ICC/IF, IHC-Fr, IHC-P, WB
Human, mouse, rat
Monoclonal
536

ALDH1L1 (aldehyde dehydrogenase)

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member L1 is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate, NADP+ and water to tetrahydrofolate, NADPH and CO2.

Human kidney tissue sections stained with anti-ALDH1L1 (ab177463).

Figure 6. Human kidney tissue sections stained with anti-ALDH1L1 (ab177463).

abID
Product name
Applications
Species
Clonality
Citations
ab87117
Anti-ALDH1L1 antibody - Astrocyte Marker
WB
Mouse, rat
Polyclonal
77

References

  1. Cahoy, J. D. et al.  A transcriptome database for astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes: a new resource for understanding brain development and function.  J. Neurosci.   28, 264–278 (2008).

  2. Dimou, L. & Götz, M. Glial cells as progenitors and stem cells: new roles in the healthy and diseased brain.  Physiol. Rev.   94, 709–737 (2014).

  3. Kriegstein, A. R. & Götz, M. Radial glia diversity: a matter of cell fate.  Glia   43, 37–43 (2003).

  4. Medrano, M. C.  et al.  Functional and morphological characterization of glutamate transporters in the rat locus coeruleus.  Br. J. Pharmacol.   170, (2013).

  5. Abrahamsen, B.  et al.  Allosteric modulation of an excitatory amino acid transporter: the subtype-selective inhibitor UCPH-101 exerts sustained inhibition of EAAT1 through an intramonomeric site in the trimerization domain.  J. Neurosci.   33, (2013).

  6. Shigeri, Y.  et al.  Effects of threo-β-hydroxyaspartate derivatives on excitatory amino acid transporters (EAAT4 and EAAT5).  J. Neurochem.   79, (2001).

  7. Lee, S.-G.  et al.  Mechanism of ceftriaxone induction of excitatory amino acid transporter-2 expression and glutamate uptake in primary human astrocytes.  J. Biol. Chem.   283, (2008).