Peripherin

Peripherin is a type III intermediate filament present is cells derived from the neural tube and neural crest.

Immunohistochemical expression

• neurones

• b cells of pancreatic islets²

• some neuroendocrine tumours:

  • neuroblastoma⁴

  • ganglioneuroblastoma

  • Merkel cell carcinoma³

• melanoma¹

Diagnostic utility

References

¹Prieto, V. G., N. S. McNutt, et al. (1997). "The intermediate filament peripherin is expressed in cutaneous melanocytic lesions." J Cutan Pathol 24(3): 145-50.

²Escurat, M., K. Djabali, et al. (1991). "Origin of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans is further questioned by the expression of neuronal intermediate filament proteins, peripherin and NF-L, in the rat insulinoma RIN5F cell line." Dev Neurosci 13(6): 424-32.

³Baudoin, C., G. Meneguzzi, et al. (1993). "Peripherin, a neuronal intermediate protein, is stably expressed by neuroendocrine carcinomas of the skin, their xenograft on nude mice, and the corresponding primary cultures." Cancer Res 53(5): 1175-81.

⁴Pedersen, W. A., L. E. Becker, et al. (1993). "Expression and distribution of peripherin protein in human neuroblastoma cell lines." Int J Cancer 53(3): 463-70.

This page last revised 24.1.2004.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop