Myogenin and Myo-D1

Myo-D1, myogenin, MRF4 (also called herculin or myf-6) and myf-5 are members of the Myo-D family of transcription factors and are responsible for initiating striated muscle differentiation. Myf-5 and MRF4 are expressed at specific limited periods in myogenesis. MyoD1 and myogenin are downregulated at birth. MRF4 is the dominant myogenic regulatory factor in adult skeletal muscle.

Antigen retrieval is required. Staining is strictly nuclear.

Immunohistochemical expression

skeletal muscle

Myogenin has been detected in:

strongly expressed in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and to a lesser extent in other rhabdomyosarcomas.
some cases of fibromatosis¹
some cases of infantile myofibromatosis¹
some cases of synovial sarcoma¹
some cases of leiomyosarcoma¹

Myo-D1 is preferentially expressed over myogenin in:

alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma

Diagnostic utility

Identification of skeletal muscle differentiation. Diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma.

References

Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry edited by Professor D. J. Dabbs, page 69.

¹Montgomery, E., Goldblum, J.R. and Fisher, C. Leiomyosarcoma of the head and neck: a clinicopathological study. Histopathology 2002;40:518-25.

This page last revised 14.12.2001.