Anti-desmin recognizes a protein expressed by cells of normal smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscle. It has been proposed that desmin is mainly localized at or near the periphery of Z-lines in striated muscle fibrils. In smooth muscle, desmin associates cytoplasmic dense bodies with membrane-bound dense plaques. Anti-Desmin reacts with leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas, rhabdomyomas, rhabdomyosarcomas and perivascular cells of glomus tumors of the skin. This antibody is used to detect the myogenic components/derivations of tumors. Desmin may also be present in myofibroblasts and be focally positive in desmoid fibromatoses. High temperature repair can increase staining intensity.