Basement-membrane components associated with the extracellular matrix of the lymph node.
Lymph nodes contain an extensive array of extracellular matrix fibers frequently referred to as "reticular fibers" because of their reticular pattern and positive reaction with silver stains. These fibers are known to contain primarily type-III collagen. In the present study, frozen and plastic-embedded sections of mouse and human lymph nodes were subjected to immunostaining with a panel of monospecific antibodies directed against type-IV collagen, type-III collagen, laminin, entactin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Immunofluorescent staining revealed that, in addition to being uniformly stained with antibodies to type-III collagen, these fibers also stained positively with antibodies to type-IV collagen and to other basement-membrane-specific components. Furthermore, the basement-membrane-specific antibodies stained the outer surface of individual fibers. These same type-III collagen-rich fibers were distinct from blood vascular basement membranes since they did not react with antibodies to factor VIII-related antigen, an endothelial-cell-specific marker. The role of these basement-membrane-specific components associated with the reticular fibers of lymphoid tissue is unknown. However, it is possible that the ligands promote attachment of reticular fibroblasts as well as macrophages and lymphocytes to the extracellular matrix fibers.
Kramer
R H
RH
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Rosen
S D
SD
McDonald
K A
KA
D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000032:analysis; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D003094:Collagen; D005353:Fibronectins; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D007797:Laminin