Immunogold staining of intermediate-sized filaments of the vimentin type in human skin: a postembedding immunoelectron microscopic study.
We have studied the localization of vimentin in normal human skin at the ultrastructural level using a monoclonal mouse anti-vimentin antibody and a postembedding immunogold-staining technique on thin sections of Lowicryl K4M embedded biopsies. Selective immunogold labeling of intermediate-sized filaments (IF) of epidermal Langerhans cells and melanocytes and of dermal fibroblasts was demonstrated. The IF of fibroblasts were more intensely stained than those of the epidermal dendritic cells; cell processes and dendrites of all three cell populations exhibited a greater number of IF and more pronounced immunogold-labeling than the perinuclear cytoplasm, relating IF of the vimentin type to dendrite formation and/or function. The method described is an appropriate tool for immunoelectron microscopic studies of IF of the vimentin type in situ.
Department of Dermatology, University of Vienna, Austria.
K
K
Rappersberger
M
M
Binder
E
E
Zonzits
U
U
Hornick
K
K
Wolff
D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism*
D014746:Vimentin