ULTRASTRUCTURAL DISTRIBUTION OF FIBRONECTIN IN NORMAL AND FIBROTIC HUMAN-LUNG

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  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (4) , 399-408
Abstract
The distribution of fibronectin was studied in normal and fibrotic adult human lung and normal hamster lung using affinity-purified antifibronectin Fab''-horseradish peroxidase conjugates. In normal lung, fibronectin staining was present in alveolar capillary and epithelial basal lamina and associated with interstitial collagen fibers. In airway and larger vessels, fibronectin staining was associated with the basal lamina of smooth muscles. In contrast to the relative paucity of staining in normal lung, the alveolar basal lamina of fibrotic lung stained intensely for fibronectin. In addition, there was strong, periodic (.apprx. 600 .ANG.) staining of native collagen fibers for fibronectin. Fibronectin antigenicity evidently is present in the alveolar epithelial and capillary endothelial basal of normal human and hamster lung. The marked alterations in the apparent amounts and distribution of fibronectin in fibrotic human lung suggest its involvement in the cellular events accompanying human lung fibrosis.