ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression and significance of Ezrin in skeletal muscle of myopathy patients. Methods The skeletal muscle specimens with obviously regenerating muscle fibers were obtained from 9 patients with pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy (DMD) and 5 patients with polymyositis (PM). Then frozen serial sections were made and the sections were treated with HE stain, immunohistochemistry stains including anti-Ezrin and anti-Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) monoclonal antibodies. The pathological changes and the expression of Ezrin were observed. Results The small regenerating fibers, central location of nucelus and basophilia endochylema were observed under HE stain both in the patients with DMD and PM. Anachromasis of anti-NCAM monoclonal immunohistochemistry stain was found in the regenerating muscle fibers. Positive Ezrin expression was also detected in the regenerating fibers. However, this expression tapered gradually as the mature process of skeletal muscle. The expression of Ezrin was negative in the mature fibers. Ezrin expressed in the myoblasts. Conclusions Ezrin may be closely related to the regenerating skeletal muscle fibers of DMD and PM patients.