Desmin [D33]

“Desmin is a characteristic intermediate filament of all three types of muscle cells (skeletal, cardiac,
and smooth muscle) and neoplasms associated with them. In general, desmin is a specific marker
for myogenic differentiation among soft tissue tumors. It is seen in the majority of rhadbomyomas,leiomyomas, rhadbomyosarcoma, and leiomyosarcomas. Desmin is also seen in myofibroblasts. Myoepithelial cells typically lack desmin. The antibody labels smooth and striated muscle cells as well as mesothelial cells. It allows the subtyping of many undifferentiated and pleomorphic tumors through intermediate filament analysis. With selected panels of antibodies, it is a useful tool to separate the different
pleomorphic spindle cell tumors and round cell tumors in soft tissues and skin. The antibody labels strongly reactive mesothelial cells, but not malignant mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma. “