Epithelial membrane antigen expression by the perineurial cell: further studies of peripheral nerve lesions.

We have previously shown that a range of anti-epithelial membrane antigen monoclonal antibodies show immunoreactivity with the perineurial fibroblast, both in normal nerves and within a range of common peripheral nerve tumours. We have extended these observations by studying a further collection of peripheral nerve lesions, including some which have previously been thought to have an origin from the perineurial cell. The results provide further evidence that these antibodies reliably stain perineurial cells and that in conjunction with antisera to S-100 protein and neurofilaments, the relative contributions of the perineurial fibroblast, Schwann cell and neurone can be assessed within a nerve-related tumour/lesion. The perineurial fibroblast is an important component of some peripheral nerve lesions.