Rosenthal fiber
Sign of a few neurodegenerative disorders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rosenthal fibers are brightly eosinophilic, corkscrew-shaped astrocytic inclusions composed primarily of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) with small heat-shock proteins.
H&E staining showing these elongated eosinophilic structures in a case of pilocytic astrocytoma. (Magnification 400x)
Associated conditions
Rosenthal fibers are found on staining of brain tissue in the presence of long-standing reactive gliosis (e.g., old infarcts, multiple sclerosis, trauma), some tumors (e.g., pilocytic astrocytoma),[1] and rarely in lysosomal storage diseases such as fucosidosis.[2] They may be seen in Alexander disease.[3]
Rosenthal fibers can also be seen in craniopharyngioma.[4]
Composition
The fibers are found in astrocytic processes and are thought to be clumped intermediate filament proteins, primarily glial fibrillary acidic protein.[5] Other reported constituents include alphaB crystallin, heat shock protein 27, ubiquitin, vimentin, plectin, c-Jun, the 20 S proteasome, and synemin.[6]