title: Thrombospondin as a component of the extracellular matrix of epiretinal membranes: comparisons with cellular fibronectin.
abstract: We compared the distribution of the adhesive extracellular matrix glycoproteins thrombospondin and cellular fibronectin in epiretinal membranes. A total of nine membranes were investigated with immunohistochemical techniques. Thrombospondin and cellular fibronectin immunoreactivity were observed in seven of the specimens and immunostaining for the two glycoproteins was co-localised in four of the membranes. The findings indicate that thrombospondin contributes to the extracellular glycoprotein content of epiretinal membranes and is frequently co-distributed with cellular fibronectin in the tissue. As a consequence, thrombospondin may play a role in the assembly of the extracellular matrix of epiretinal membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hiscott
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Robey
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grierson
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000378:metabolism; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D019699:Thrombospondins
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D019699:Thrombospondins