Muscle-specific actin (HHF35)

This antibody recognises an epitope common to alpha-skeletal, alpha-cardiac and gamma-smooth muscle actins.

Immunohistochemical expression

• skeletal muscle

• cardiac muscle

• smooth muscle cells

• myoepithelial cells

• pericytes

• myofibroblasts

• ovarian stroma

• decidual cells

• stromal cells of chorionic villi

• capsule of liver, kidney and spleen

• fibroblastic reticulum cells of lymph nodes and spleen

• leiomyomas

• leiomyosarcomas

• alveolar soft part sarcoma

• epithelioid sarcoma

• infantile digital fibromatosis

• ovarian sclerosing stromal tumours

• Kaposi's sarcoma

• glomus tumours

• variably in malignant mesotheliomas

• variably in malignant fibrous histiocytomas

• occasionally in metastatic endometrial stromal sarcoma

• occasionally in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours

Diagnostic utility

Identification of smooth muscle tumours; best used in conjunction with smooth muscle actin and desmin.

References

Gown AM, Tsukada T,Ross R. Human atherosclerosis. II. Immunocytochemical analysis of the cellular composition of human atherosclerotic lesions. Am J Pathol 1986; 125:191-207

Azumi N, Ben-Ezra J,Battifora H. Immunophenotypic diagnosis of leiomyosarcomas and rhabdomyosarcomas with monoclonal antibodies to muscle-specific actin and desmin in formalin-fixed tissue. Mod Pathol 1988; 1:469-74

©SMUHT/PW Bishop