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Neurone-specific enolase is a molecular marker for peripheral and central neuroendocrine cells - Nature

  • ️BRIGHTMAN, MILTON
  • ️Fri Dec 01 1978
  • Letter
  • Published: 01 December 1978

Nature volume 276, pages 834–836 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

NEURONE-SPECIFIC ENOLASE (NSE) is the most acidic brain isoenzyme of the glycolytic enzyme enolase (EC4.2.1.11) and has been shown to be homologous to the 14-3-2 protein isolated from bovine brain by Moore1–3. Whereas NSE is exclusively localised in neurones in mammalian nervous tissue4,5, another brain enolase isoenzyme termed non-neuronal enolase (NNE) is localised in glial elements5. As NSE and NNE are structurally, functionally and immunologically distinct isoenzymes that represent separate gene products6,7, they are useful markers for cell classes in the nervous system. Although NNE is probably identical to liver enolase, NSE has to date been considered to be localised in neurones. We now report that NSE is also present in peripheral and central neuroendocrine cells, also termed amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation (APUD) cells8–10. Immunocytochemistry using the unlabelled antibody enzyme method of Sternberger11 demonstrates that APUD cells in both laboratory rat and rhesus monkey (Macacca mulatta) stain positively with NSE antiserum. Using a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for NSE, it is possible to confirm their localisation in adrenal gland and to support the finding in other APUD-cell-containing tissues in rat, monkey and man. The results in human tissues suggest that the immunocytochemical localisation in rat and monkey will be valid for man and prove useful in the study of human diseases involving the APUD cell class.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014

    DONALD SCHMECHEL

  2. Clinical Psychobiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014

    PAUL J. MARANGOS

  3. Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroanatomical Science, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014

    MILTON BRIGHTMAN

Authors

  1. DONALD SCHMECHEL

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  2. PAUL J. MARANGOS

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  3. MILTON BRIGHTMAN

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SCHMECHEL, D., MARANGOS, P. & BRIGHTMAN, M. Neurone-specific enolase is a molecular marker for peripheral and central neuroendocrine cells. Nature 276, 834–836 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/276834a0

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  • Received: 05 July 1978

  • Accepted: 31 October 1978

  • Published: 01 December 1978

  • Issue Date: 21 December 1978

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/276834a0