Neurofilament proteins

The neurofilaments are composed of three subunits with molecular weights of 68, 150 and 200 kD respectively. They may exist in phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms and monoclonal antibodies may be specific to one of these forms. The 68 kD protein appears to be more widespread than the 200 kD form1. Even with antigen retrieval, immunoreactivity in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues is not strong.

Immunohistochemical expression

• all neurons and axonal processes of the central and peripheral nervous system, except olfactory sensory neurones

• neuroblastoma. However, the 68 kD protein that predominates in neuroblastoma can be consistently deomonstrated in frozen secions but not paraffin-embedded tissue2.

• ganglioglioma

• medulloblastoma

• retinoblastoma

• pineal parenchymal tumours

• Merkel cell carcinoma4

• carcinoid tumour3

• esthesioneuroblastoma

• ganglioneuroblastoma

• ganglioneuroma

• islet cell tumour of the pancreas

• neuroblastoma

• small cell carcinoma

• carcinoid tumour

• paraganglioma

• phaeochromocytoma

• teratoma with neuronal differentiation

ocassionally in :

• Ewing sarcoma / PNET

• rhabdomyosarcoma

• malignant fibrous histiocytoma

• epithelioid sarcoma

Diagnostic utility

• the identification of neurones in Hirschsprung's disease

References

Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry edited by Professor D. J. Dabbs, page 63.

1Shy, S.W., Lee, W.H., Chou, M.C., Lai, Y.S. and Tu, Y.C. Small cell lung carcinoma: clinicopathological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study. J Surg Oncol 1990;45:146-61.

2Miettinen, M., J. Chatten, et al. (1998). "Monoclonal antibody NB84 in the differential diagnosis of neuroblastoma and other small round cell tumors." Am J Surg Pathol 22(3): 327-32.

3Lehto, V. P., M. Miettinen, et al. (1984). "Bronchial carcinoid cells contain neural-type intermediate filaments." Cancer 54(4): 624-8.

4Sibley, R. K. and D. Dahl (1985). "Primary neuroendocrine (Merkel cell?) carcinoma of the skin. II. An immunocytochemical study of 21 cases." Am J Surg Pathol 9(2): 109-16.

This page last revised 14.12.2001.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop