Expression of the GFAP gene has attracted considerable attention because its onset is a marker for astrocyte development, its upregulation is a marker for reactive gliosis, and its predominance in astrocytes provides a tool for their genetic manipulation. The literature on GFAP regulation is voluminous, as almost any perturbation of development or homeostasis in the CNS will lead to changes in its expression. In this review, we limit our discussion to mechanisms proposed to regulate GFAP synthesis through a direct interaction with its gene or mRNA. Strengths and weaknesses of the supportive experimental findings are described, and suggestions made for additional studies. This review covers 15 transcription factors, DNA and histone methylation, and microRNAs. The complexity involved in regulating the expression of this intermediate filament protein suggests that GFAP function may vary among both astrocyte subtypes and other GFAP-expressing cells, as well as during development and in response to perturbations.

GFAP基因的表达引起了相当大的关注，因为它的起始是星形胶质细胞发育的标志，它的上调是反应性神经胶质增生的标志，并且它在星形胶质细胞中的优势为其遗传操作提供了工具。关于 GFAP 调节的文献非常多，因为几乎任何中枢神经系统发育或稳态的扰动都会导致其表达的变化。在这篇综述中，我们的讨论仅限于通过与其基因或 mRNA 直接相互作用来调节 GFAP 合成的机制。描述了支持性实验结果的优点和缺点，并对进一步的研究提出了建议。本综述涵盖 15 种转录因子、DNA 和组蛋白甲基化以及 microRNA。调节这种中间丝蛋白表达的复杂性表明，GFAP 功能在星形胶质细胞亚型和其他 GFAP 表达细胞之间以及在发育过程中和对扰动的反应中可能会有所不同。