GANGLIOSIDE GD(2) EXPRESSION IN THE HUMAN NERVOUS-SYSTEM AND IN NEUROBLASTOMAS - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

The distribution of the disialoganglioside GD2 in the human nervous sy stem was studied by immunostaining using monoclonal antibodies 3F8 and 3A7. Positive staining was detected throughout the central nervous sy stem, predominantly in neuronal cell bodies and neuropil of the gray m atter. The specific localization of reactivity in such structures as c erebellum and hippocampus differs from that of related gangliosides, s uggesting that GD2 may have a distinct functional role(s) in the brain , and is not merely a metabolic intermediate. GD2 expression was also analyzed in a series of 39 neuroblastomas. Staining of both primitive neuroblastic and differentiating ganglioneuromatous elements was seen, although some tumor cell heterogeneity was noted. The results have im plications for immunotherapy of neuro-blastomas using anti-GD2 antibod ies.