A CNS specific proteoglycan associated with astrocytes in rat optic nerve.

A novel CNS specific keratan sulfate proteoglycan is identified by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) TED15. The antibody recognizes a carbohydrate epitope that is removed from the core protein following keratanase digestion. The relative molecular weight of the glycoprotein is not altered following digestion with heparinase, heparitinase or chondroitinase ABC. By immunoblot analysis, the TED15 antigen is differentially distributed in diencephalic derivatives, being present in the optic nerve but absent from the retina. Within the optic nerve, the TED15 antigen is associated with astrocytes, while in the retina no labeling of astrocytes of Müller cells is observed.