Summary
The immunohistochemical distribution of α and β subunits of S-100 protein (S-100α, S-100β, respectively) in 138 cases of human brain tumors was investigated by the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method. Brain tumors can be divided into four groups: group 1 [S-100α (+) and/or S-100β (+)]; astrocytoma, glioblastoma, ependymoma, subependymoma, oligodendroglioma, choroid plexus papilloma, gangliocytoma, meningioma, chordoma, malignant melanoma. Group 2 [S-100α (+) and S-100β (-)]; pineoblastoma, pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, rhabdomyosarcoma. Group 3 [S-100α (-) and S-100β (+)]; acoustic Schwannoma. Group 4 [S-100α (-) and S-100β (-)]; medulloblastoma, malignant lymphoma, germinoma. The S-100β immunoreactivity pattern in brain tumors was similar to those obtained using conventional anti-S-100 protein sera. In the first group of brain tumors both the number of positively stained tumor cells and the staining intensity were generally greater for S-100β than for S-100α with a few exceptions including one gemistocytic astrocytoma, one subependymoma, one malignant melanoma, and some cases of glioblastomas. As to the relationship between malignancy and S-100 protein in glioma, S-100β immunoreactivity decreased according to degree of malignancy, while that of S-100α varied, suggesting a heterogeneity of tumor cells in glioblastomas. Immunostaining for S-100α and S-100β might become a useful diagnostic procedure in brain tumors and may give us more detailed and precise data of S-100 protein in brain tumors.
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Hayashi, K., Hoshida, Y., Horie, Y. et al. Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of α and β subunits of S-100 protein in brain tumors. Acta Neuropathol 81, 657–663 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296376
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00296376