title: An investigation into the nature of giant cells in cardiac and skeletal muscle.
abstract: In an immunohistochemical study of six cases of giant cell myocarditis, the typical giant cells have been shown to express up to four different macrophage-associated antigens, but not desmin, the intermediate filament protein characteristic of muscle cells. These results support the view that the giant cells have a macrophage rather than a myogenic origin. In contrast, the giant cells found in regenerating skeletal muscle have the immunophenotype of muscle cells and not of macrophages supporting their muscle origin.
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Pathology, John Radcliffe Hospital, England.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Theaker
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Gatter
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heryet
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000473:pathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal