Filamin C accumulation is a strong but nonspecific immunohistochemical marker of core formation in muscle

J Neurol Sci. 2003 Jan 15;206(1):71-8. doi: 10.1016/s0022-510x(02)00341-6.

Abstract

Filamin C is the muscle isoform of a group of large actin-crosslinking proteins. On the one hand, filamin C is associated with the Z-disk of the myofibrillar apparatus and binds to myotilin; on the other hand, it interacts with the sarcoglycan complex at the sarcolemma. Filamin C may be involved in reorganizing the cytoskeleton in response to signalling events and in muscle it may, in addition, fulfill structural functions at the Z-disk. An examination of biopsies from patients with multi-minicore myopathy, central core myopathy and neurogenic target fibers with core-like target formations (TF) revealed strong reactivity of all the cores and target formations with two different anti-filamin C antibodies. In all three conditions, the immunoreactivity in the cores for filamin C was considerably stronger than that for desmin. Only for alphaB-crystallin were comparable levels of immunoreactivity detected. There was no difference in intensity for filamin C between the three pathological conditions. Thus, filamin C along with alphaB-crystallin is a strong and robust, but nonspecific marker of core formation. The reason why filamin C accumulates in cores is unclear at present, but we postulate that it may be critically involved in the chain of events eventually leading to myofibrillar degeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Contractile Proteins / metabolism*
  • Filamins
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology*
  • Muscular Diseases / pathology*
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Reference Values

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Contractile Proteins
  • Filamins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms