Biomaterial Database

Immunocytochemical studies on desmin and vimentin in neuromuscular disorders. 1994

C Young, and M Y Lin, and P J Wang, and Y Z Shen

Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, R.O.C.

Desmin and vimentin are two intermediate filaments, abundant in fetal skeletal muscle, almost undetectable in mature skeletal muscle which increase in regenerating and partially damaged skeletal muscle fibers. To determine their content in neuromuscular disorders immunohistochemical studies of desmin and vimentin were performed on 53 human muscle specimens. The labelled streptavidin biotin technique (DAKO, LSAB Kit, alkaline phosphatase) was used. Strong staining intensity was seen in regenerating and partially damaged fibers of inflammatory myopathies and muscular dystrophy. Necrotic fibers lost their reactivity for both filaments. Type II glycogenosis showed an increased reactivity for desmin and vimentin. A mild increase in desmin and vimentin staining intensity was observed in the atrophic cells of spinal muscular atrophy, but not in the atrophic fibers from other disease entities. Weaker reactivity for desmin was noted in atrophic cells of myotonic dystrophy. The immunohistochemical study of desmin and vimentin in neuromuscular disorders is helpful in detecting degeneration, or regeneration changes, of muscle fibers and may provide clues to the pathogenesis of various muscular disorders.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D007231	Infant, Newborn	An infant during the first 28 days after birth.	Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009336	Necrosis	The death of cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury or failure of the blood supply.
D009468	Neuromuscular Diseases	A general term encompassing lower MOTOR NEURON DISEASE; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; and certain MUSCULAR DISEASES. Manifestations include MUSCLE WEAKNESS; FASCICULATION; muscle ATROPHY; SPASM; MYOKYMIA; MUSCLE HYPERTONIA, myalgias, and MUSCLE HYPOTONIA.	Amyotonia Congenita,Oppenheim Disease,Cramp-Fasciculation Syndrome,Fasciculation-Cramp Syndrome, Benign,Foley-Denny-Brown Syndrome,Oppenheim's Disease,Benign Fasciculation-Cramp Syndrome,Benign Fasciculation-Cramp Syndromes,Cramp Fasciculation Syndrome,Cramp-Fasciculation Syndromes,Fasciculation Cramp Syndrome, Benign,Fasciculation-Cramp Syndromes, Benign,Foley Denny Brown Syndrome,Neuromuscular Disease,Oppenheims Disease,Syndrome, Cramp-Fasciculation,Syndrome, Foley-Denny-Brown,Syndromes, Cramp-Fasciculation
D012038	Regeneration	The physiological renewal, repair, or replacement of tissue.	Endogenous Regeneration,Regeneration, Endogenous,Regenerations
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children