THE PROTEIN-TYROSINE-PHOSPHATASE SHP-2 IS EXPRESSED IN GLIAL AND NEURONAL PROGENITOR CELLS, POSTMITOTIC NEURONS AND REACTIVE ASTROCYTES

In this study we examined the distribution and developmental profile o f the src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphat ase SHP-2 in the mouse brain. We found that SHP-2 is present in both m itotically active and postmitotic cells in the forebrains of embryonic day 12 (E12) mice. In a developmental study extending from embryonic day 12 to adulthood, Western blotting analysis demonstrated equivalent levels of SHP-2 protein at all of the ages examined. Expression of SH P-2 paralleled the level of enzymatic activity at the different develo pmental periods. In the adult brain SHP-2 was restricted to diverse cl asses of neurons, while the majority of glial cells did not express de tectable levels of protein. However, reactive astrocytes in response t o an ischemic brain injury showed SHP-2 immunolabelling. Our data sugg est that SHP-2 may play a role in pathways of neuronal and glial proge nitor cells, in a broad spectrum of neuronal responses in the adult br ain and in the gliotic response to the injury. (C) 1997 IBRO. Publishe d by Elsevier Science Ltd.