c-fos protein-like immunoreactivity in cultured human glial cells

The expression of the c-fos protein(s) in cultured glial cells of the human brain and sympathetic ganglia was studied immunocytochemically using an antibody to a synthetic fragment of the c-fos protein (M-peptide). GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and S-100 antibodies were used as glial cell markers. The c-fos immunoreactivity (c-fos IR) was observed in both brain and peripheral ganglion derived cells maintained 7-22 days in culture. In general, c-fos IR was stronger in small spindle-shaped cells than in large cells. Deprivation of serum for 24 h decreased drastically c-fos IR in both types of cultures. The results demonstrate a serum-dependent expression of c-fos in the human glial cells derived from central and peripheral nervous systems.