Alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) and nestin expression in reactive astrocytes in multiple sclerosis lesions: potential regulatory role of transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐β1)

Abstract

Reactive astrocytes in active MS lesions re-express alpha-SMA and nestin. We suggest that the in vivo re-expression might be under regulation of TGF-beta1. These results further clarify the regulation of astrocyte activity after CNS injury, which is important for the astroglial adaptation to pathological situations.