title: Immunohistochemical expression of type VI collagen in superficial fibromatoses.
abstract: The expression of type VI collagen was studied immunohistochemically in 26 cases of superficial fibromatoses (palmar, plantar and penile) using an immunoperoxidase method for light microscopic visualization. The polyclonal antibody against type VI collagen used in this study was isolated from human placenta and its specifity was tested by immunoblotting assay. All cases consisted of multiple nodules showing a variable degree of cellularity and fibrosis. Depending on the predominant histological appearance of these nodules, each case was assigned to the three following phases: proliferative, involutional and residual. Morphologically normal palmar and plantar aponeuroses were included as controls. Immunohistochemical findings showed that type VI collagen was present as longitudinal thin fibers in normal palmar and plantar aponeuroses. A differential expression of this collagen was found in the different stages of superficial fibromatoses. Type VI collagen was markedly expressed as a distinct fibrillar network in the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding proliferating stromal cells in proliferative and involutional phases. Its expression completely disappeared from the connective tissue undergoing fibrotic transformation during involutional and residual phases. The results of the present study suggest that type VI collagen is an extracellular marker of stromal tissue proliferation and is involved in the early phases of tissue remodelling occurring in the superficial fibromatoses.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathological Anatomy, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombatti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanzafame
mesh_terms: D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D004387:Dupuytren Contracture / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005350:Fibroma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen