Expression von CNTFRalpha in humanem Muskel- und Nervengewebe

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a molecule with neurotrophic properties. This neuropoetic cytokine influences the survival of spinal motor neurons and the regeneration of peripheral nerves. In this study the expression pattern of the specific CNTF binding entity (CNTFR() in human tissue (muscle and nerve) was analyzed. By in situ hybridization the transcribed RNA could be detected in paraffin section. In muscle biopsies, the CNTFR( transcripts were found in the perinuclear regions of the skeletal muscle fibers. Within peripheral nerves, the Schwann cells were marked. Especially within biopsies showing signs of inflammatory reaction, CNTFR( transcripts could be detected in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells of blood vessels and in fibroblasts. Having established a nonradioactive method using routine material without extra precautions concerning fixing and embedding of the tissues, an analyzis of the receptor expression pattern is now possible even using archived material