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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Immunolabelling Myofiber Degeneration in Muscle Biopsies
Published on: December 5, 2019
Immunohistochemical analysis of adhesion molecule expression on muscle biopsy specimens from patients with juvenile
Adriana M E Sallum1, Suely K N Marie, Alda Wakamatsu
1Department of Pediatrics, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. adrianasallum@ig.com.br
Objective:
To assess expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on muscle biopsy specimens from patients with untreated juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).
Methods:
Histochemical and immunohistochemical tests for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were performed on serial frozen sections from 27 JDM muscle biopsy specimens. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression was analyzed on capillaries, perimysial and endomysial large vessels, and muscle fibers. Expression was assessed and graded semiquantitatively.
Results:
Increased ICAM-1 expression was observed on capillaries and perimysial large vessels on semiquantitative analysis, and was statistically more evident than on endomysial large vessels. In all cases, only a few muscle vessels showed expression of VCAM-1. Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was observed on few muscle fibers.
Conclusion:
The observation of ICAM-1 expression on muscle vessels, mainly on capillaries of patients with untreated JDM compared to controls, and VCAM-1 expression to a lesser extent, mostly on muscle vessels surrounded by inflammatory infiltrate, supports the participation of these adhesion molecules in the pathologic mechanism of vascular injury in JDM.
