Expression of Golli proteins in adult human brain and multiple sclerosis lesions.

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.