STUDIES ON RETICULIN .1. SEROLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE OCCURRENCE OF COLLAGEN TYPE-III, FIBRONECTIN AND THE NON-COLLAGENOUS GLYCOPROTEIN OF PRAS AND GLYNN IN RETICULIN

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (2) , 154-166
Abstract
Collagen type III, fibronectin and a non-collagenous reticulin component (NCRC) are all secretory products of fibroblasts and other mesenchymal cells. Antisera to human collagen III (isolated from the placenta) human plasma fibronectin and NCRC (from spleen) were used to examine possible antigenic relationships between these proteins both by serological studies and by comprision of the distribution of the proteins in various tissues using immunofluorescence. For other comparative purposes, the distribution of collagen and reticulin in the same tissues was also sought using conventional histological methods. Serologically, the 3 antisera showed distinct specificities. When used on sections all 3 antisera gave closely similar staining patterns broadly resembling that of histological reticulin, although minor differences were noted to be characteristic of the distribution of the respective antigens in certain tissues and in cell monolayers. Histological reticulin is not a single entity but is a compound fibrous structure containing collagen type III, fibronectin and at least 1 additional non-collagenous glycoprotein (NCRC).