Background of the antigen
Fascin is a highly conserved actin-bundling protein. Fascin, encoded by the human homolog for sn (hsn) gene, has been localized to microspikes and stress fibers of cultured cells where it is thought to be involved in the formation of microfilament bundles. It is expressed predominantly in dendritic cells. Lymphoid cells, myeloid cells and plasma cells are negative. However, Reed Sternberg cells in Hodgkin’s lymphoma are positive for fascin staining. Epstein-Barr virus may induce expression of fascin in B cells.
