CD15-containing glycoconjugates have a common trisaccharide residue, 3
-fucosyl-N-acetyllactosamine, which can be recognized by a panel of mo
noclonal antibodies. Immunohistochemical studies revealed a widespread
distribution of CD15 in several epithelial non-neural tissues as well
as in the CNS. In the mature mammalian brain CD15-containing glycolip
ids and glycoproteins are constantly present in astrocytes, whereas ol
igodendrocytes and particular subpopulations of neurons are variably i
mmunostained. CD15 immunoreactive astrocytes are spatially distributed
in some brain regions, which points to specialized functions of astro
glial subpopulations. The expression of CD15 follows a timely ordered
pattern during the development of glial cells and neurons of certain b
rain areas, such as the human and rat cerebellum and the mouse visual
system. During morphogenesis, CD15 may exert either growth-promoting o
r growth-repulsive activities to guide cell migration. In CNS lesions
altered expression patterns of CD15 may occur. For example, in human g
liomas the staining intensity for CD15 inversely correlates with the g
rade of malignancy. In degenerative brain diseases reactive astrocytes
may reveal an increased labelling intensity on their cell surface as
well as an abnormal cytosolic accumulation of the epitope. The functio
nal significance of CD15 in the CNS is not exactly known yet. The carb
ohydrate could be involved in cellular adhesion and/or as receptor mol
ecule in signal transduction pathways, as has recently been demonstrat
ed for leukocyte-platelet or leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions.