Vimentin Antibody

This antibody specifically reacts with an ~ 58kDa protein identified as Vimentin. It shows no cross-reaction with other closely related intermediate filament proteins (IFPs) such as desmin, keratin, neurofilament, and glial fibrillary acid protein. Vimentin antibody alone is of limited value as a diagnostic tool; however, when used in panels with other antibodies, it is useful for tumor sub-classification. Expression of vimentin, when used in conjunction with keratin antibody, is helpful when distinguishing melanomas from undifferentiated carcinomas and large cell lymphomas. All melanomas and Schwannomas react strongly with vimentin antibody. It labels a variety of mesenchymal cells, including melanocytes, lymphocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Non-reactivity with vimentin antibody is often considered more useful than its positive reactivity, since there are a few tumors that do not contain vimentin, e.g. hepatoma and seminoma. Vimentin antibody is also useful as a tissue process control reagent.