Distribution of podoplanin-expressing cells in the mouse nervous systems.

Podoplanin is a mucin-type glycoprotein which was first identified in podocytes. Recently, podoplanin has been successively reported as a marker for brain and peripheral nerve tumors, however, the distribution of podoplanin-expressing cells in normal nerves has not been fully investigated. This study aims to examine the podoplanin-expressing cell distribution in the mouse head and nervous systems.

The expression of podoplanin and classic cadherins in the mouse brain.

Podoplanin is a transmembrane glycoprotein indirectly linked to classic cadherins through ezrin-actin networks. Recently, the overexpression of podoplanin in high-grade malignancy brain tumors has been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of podoplanin and classic cadherins in the mouse brain.