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Isolation and Direct Neuronal Reprogramming of Mouse Astrocytes
Published on: July 7, 2022
ADAM12 is expressed by astrocytes during experimental demyelination
Fabian Baertling1, Maria Kokozidou, Thomas Pufe
1Institute of Neuroanatomy, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Brain Research
|February 24, 2010
Summary
ADAM12 is not exclusively expressed by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. Activated astrocytes, not oligodendrocytes, are the main source of ADAM12 during demyelination, suggesting its role in CNS diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) 12 is a protein implicated in various CNS functions.
- Previous studies suggested ADAM12 is primarily expressed by oligodendrocytes, making it a potential cell marker.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate ADAM12 expression in healthy and demyelinating murine central nervous system (CNS).
- To determine if ADAM12 is a reliable marker for oligodendrocytes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the cuprizone demyelination model in mice.
- Analyzed ADAM12 expression in oligodendrocytes, neurons, and astrocytes via immunohistochemistry.
- Investigated astrocyte and microglial responses to various stimuli in vitro.
Main Results:
- ADAM12 is expressed by oligodendrocytes, neurons, and astrocytes in the healthy adult mouse brain.
- Activated astrocytes, not oligodendrocytes, are the primary source of ADAM12 during cuprizone-induced demyelination.
- Astrocyte ADAM12 expression is stimulus-specific and potentially mediated by the NFkappaB pathway.
Conclusions:
- ADAM12 is not a suitable marker for oligodendrocytes in the CNS.
- ADAM12 expression in astrocytes suggests a role in demyelinating disorders and other CNS diseases.

