LOCALIZATION OF TYPE-V COLLAGEN AND TYPE-IV COLLAGEN IN HUMAN CORNEA, LUNG, AND SKIN - IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE BY ANTI-COLLAGEN ANTIBODIES CHARACTERIZED BY IMMUNOELECTROBLOTTING

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 116  (3) , 417-426
Abstract
Tissue distribution of type-V collagen in comparison with type-IV collagen was investigated by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Affinity-purified rat antibodies to type-IV and type-V collagen obtained from human placenta reacted specifically only with the corresponding type of collagen in both native and denatured conformations. In indirect immunofluorescent stainings of human skin, lung and cornea tissues, type-IV and type-V collagens showed distinct distributions. Type-IV collagen was distributed exclusively in basement membrane. Type-V collagen had 2 characteristic features: a diffuse distribution in interstitium and the locations on or adjacent to basement membrane. Based on these findings and on biochemical characterization of the collagens, it is postulated that type-V collagen is an intermediate collagen, possibly having a function of binding or connecting of interstitial collagen fibrils with membranous collagen networks.