Table 1.

Comparison of commonly used markers for fibroblast-like cells

Fibroblast markers	Expression in other cell types	ECM protein	Comments	References
Raldh2	Oligodendrocytes, Astrocytes	No	Expressed in both meningeal and perivascular fibroblasts, but not specific for fibroblasts in the CNS. Upregulated after CNS injury.	22, 23
FSP1	Hematopoietic cells, Endothelial cells, Vascular smooth muscle cells	No	Expressed in both meningeal and perivascular fibroblasts, but not specific for fibroblasts in the CNS. Expressed outside the CNS.	24, 25
Fibronectin	Macrophages, Astrocytes	Yes	Expressed in both meningeal and perivascular fibroblasts, but not specific for fibroblasts in the CNS. Upregulated after CNS injury. Expressed in other cells after injury.	23, 32, 33
Vimentin	Arachnoid/meningothelial cells, Astrocytes, Pericyte, Endothelial cells	No	Expressed in both meningeal and perivascular fibroblasts, but not specific for fibroblasts in the CNS. Expressed outside the CNS.	23, 26
PDGFRα	Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells	No	Expressed in both meningeal and perivascular fibroblasts, but not specific for fibroblasts in the CNS. Expressed outside the CNS.	5, 15, 27
ER-TR7	Pericytes, Reticular fibers	Yes	Predominantly expressed in meningeal fibroblasts and pericytes in the CNS. Expressed outside the CNS.	6, 29–31
Col1α1	Podocytes, Pericytes	Yes	Specifically expressed in meningeal and perivascular fibroblasts in the CNS. Upregulated after CNS injury. Expressed in pericyte and podocytes outside the CNS.	5, 14, 22
PDGFRβ	Mural cells, Some neurons	No	Expressed in both meningeal and perivascular fibroblasts, but not specific for fibroblasts in the CNS. Expressed outside the CNS.	28, 34