This study was undertaken to localize fibronectin and type IV collagen in the cultured retinal pigment epithelial cell by means of immunofluorescent staining and immunocytochemical methods. Immunofluorescent staining and immunocytochemical methods revealed fibronectin and type IV collagen localized on the extracellular membrane of the cultured retinal pigment epithelial cell. Ultrastructural immunocytochemical technique also revealed fibronectin associated with extracellular tissue. This study demonstrated that fibronectin and type IV collagen are an integral component of the extracellular matrix of the human retinal pigment epithelial cell in vitro.
Cells, Cultured ; Collagen/*analysis ; Extracellular Matrix/*analysis/immunology ; Fibronectins/*analysis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Pigment Epithelium of Eye/*analysis

Carious lesions are bacteria-caused destructions of the mineralised dental tissues, marked by the simultaneous activation of immune responses and regenerative events within the soft dental pulp tissue. While major molecular players in tooth decay have been uncovered during the past years, a detailed map of the molecular and cellular landscape of the diseased pulp is still missing. In this study we used single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, supplemented with immunostaining, to generate a comprehensive single-cell atlas of the pulp of carious human teeth. Our data demonstrated modifications in the various cell clusters within the pulp of carious teeth, such as immune cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and fibroblasts, when compared to the pulp of healthy human teeth. Active immune response in the carious pulp tissue is accompanied by specific changes in the fibroblast and MSC clusters. These changes include the upregulation of genes encoding extracellular matrix (ECM) components, including COL1A1 and Fibronectin (FN1), and the enrichment of the fibroblast cluster with myofibroblasts. The incremental changes in the ECM composition of carious pulp tissues were further confirmed by immunostaining analyses. Assessment of the Fibronectin fibres under mechanical strain conditions showed a significant tension reduction in carious pulp tissues, compared to the healthy ones. The present data demonstrate molecular, cellular and biomechanical alterations in the pulp of human carious teeth, indicative of extensive ECM remodelling, reminiscent of fibrosis observed in other organs. This comprehensive atlas of carious human teeth can facilitate future studies of dental pathologies and enable comparative analyses across diseased organs.
Humans ; Dental Pulp ; Fibronectins ; Extracellular Matrix/pathology* ; Dental Caries ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

PURPOSE: Cancer tissue may display a wide spectrum of expression phenotypes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of EMT phenotypes in breast cancer. METHODS: We evaluated the expression pattern of the EMT-related proteins E-cadherin and fibronectin in samples from 1,495 patients with invasive breast carcinoma (IBC) on tissue microarrays using immunohistochemistry to investigate the clinical significance of EMT phenotypes in IBC. EMT phenotypes were divided into complete type (E-cadherin-negative/fibronectin-positive), incomplete type (hybrid type, E-cadherinpositive/fibronectin-positive; null type, E-cadherin-negative/fibronectin-negative), and wild-type (E-cadherin-positive/fibronectin-negative). We analyzed the correlation of EMT phenotype with clinicopathological factors and patient survival. RESULTS: Loss of E-cadherin was observed in 302 patients (20.2%), and fibronectin was expressed in the cancer cells of 354 patients (23.7%). In total, 64 (4.3%), 290 (19.4%), 238 (15.9%), and 903 (60.4%) samples were categorized as complete, hybrid, null, and wild-type, respectively. The complete EMT phenotype exhibited significant associations with young age (p=0.017), advanced pT (p<0.001) and pN (p<0.001) stages, higher histological grade (p<0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p<0.001), and triple negativity (p<0.001). Patients with complete and hybrid EMT phenotypes had poorer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than those with the wild-type phenotype (OS, p=0.001; DFS, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, the hybrid EMT phenotype was an independent prognostic factor for DFS in patients with IBC (p=0.032). CONCLUSION: EMT phenotypes exhibited significant associations with clinicopathological factors indicating aggressive biologic behavior and poor outcome in patients with IBC.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cadherins ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition* ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phenotype* ; Prognosis

Select 106 pregnant women with threatened preterm labor between 28 and 37 weeks of gestation. They have been treated continually by the preventing preterm labor therapy including antibiotics and magnesium sulfate. Cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin (fFN) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum were detected before treatment and after 3-day and 7-day treatment respectively. 100 normal pregnant women were included as control group. (1) The fFN and CRP had significant differences between study group and control group (P<0.05). (2) The fFN and CPR were different compared in the treatment period (P<0.05). Fetal fibronectin and CRP can be used can be used in therapeutic effect evaluation of threatened preterm labor.
C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Female ; Fibronectins ; blood ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation and anatomic association of benign hyperplastic nodules in the peripheral zone (PZ) with those in the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate, and to compare the histological components of the two kinds of nodules.

METHODSWe obtained benign hyperplastic nodules specimens from the PZ and TZ by autopsy, measured the distance between the outer surface of the nodules and the inner gland, observed the integrity of the surgical envelope of the prostate, and determined the histological components of the two kinds of nodules by HE staining, immunohistochemistry and automatic quantitative image analysis.

RESULTSThe surgical envelope of the prostate was integrated and the distance between the nodules of the PZ and the outer surface of the inner gland was about 2.5 to 5 mm ([3.9 +/- 0.8] mm), with no signs of anatomic connection in between. The stromata and epithelia in the nodules accounted for (69.32 +/- 8.35)% and (16.08 +/- 5.36)% in the PZ and (74.58 +/- 8.95)% and (15.82 +/- 6.41)% in the TZ.

CONCLUSIONBenign hyperplastic nodules may originate from the PZ of the prostate and not correlate with the inner gland hyperplasia in the TZ, but with no statistical difference between the histological components of the two kinds of nodules.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autopsy ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Collagen Type II ; analysis ; Collagen Type III ; analysis ; Collagen Type IV ; analysis ; Fibronectins ; analysis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laminin ; analysis ; Male ; Prostate ; chemistry ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology

To explore the role of tenascin (TN) and fibronectin (FN) in the pathophysiology of nasal polyps (NP), the expression of TN and FN in NP from 34 patients and inferior turbinates from 20 patients with deviation of nasal septum was immunohistochemically studied. In patients with NP, the relations between expression and histopathological features, eosinophils (EOS) infiltration, clinical staging and the size of NP were analyzed. Our study showed that the gray score of TN and FN expression was 163.10 +/- 10.54 and 163.24 +/- 11.52 in NP respectively, whereas it was 175.49 +/- 9.29 and 173.93 +/- 7.92 in inferior turbinates respectively. The difference between two groups was significant (P < 0.01). The expression of TN and FN in endematous type was significantly stronger than that in cystic and glandular type and fibrous type (P < 0.05). The association between FN expression and EOS infiltration was significant (r = -0.60, P < 0.01). The expression of TN and FN did not correlate with clinical staging and size (P > 0.05). It was suggested that abnormal ECM might contribute to proliferation of epithelia, accumulation of EOS and edema formation, thereby causing development of NP.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Eosinophils ; pathology ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibronectins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Polyps ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tenascin ; analysis ; metabolism ; Turbinates ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the changes in the extracellular matrix protein expression and the morphology of seminiferous tubules in the testis of 88 azoospermic men.

METHODSThe patients were of the following categories: (1) 22 cases of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, (2) 20 cases of spermatogenic arrest, and (3) 46 cases with hypospermatogenesis. Testicular sections were immunohistochemically stained for fibronectin, vimentin, laminin and collagen type IV. The seminiferous tubular diameter and the connective matrix zone (CMZ, the acellular zone between the basement membrane [BM] and the peritubular cells) thickness were measured. Seminiferous tubules were typed according to the thickness of the connective matrix in the lamina propria. The predominant tubule type and the Johnsen and Silber scores were determined.

RESULTSThe mean tubular diameter were 119 +/- 27, 117 +/- 20, and 140 +/- 38 microm for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Both the laminin and the type IV collagen were localized to the epithelial BM and peritubular cells. In most of the tubules, BM and peritubular cells were separated by a homogenous acellular layer, the CMZ, in which laminin, type IV collagen, fibronectin and vimentin were not present. It is perceived that the worse the testicular histology, the higher the thickness of the CMZ.

CONCLUSIONIn testis with no or low sperm production, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules is decreased, the thickness of the seminiferous tubular wall is increased and a CMZ is formed between the peritubular cells and the BM. The thickness of CMZ is increasing with the advancement of testiclar deterioration. The most important morphologic predictive factor for spermiogenesis is the predominant

Adult ; Collagen Type IV ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Fibronectins ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laminin ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; analysis ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and location of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1), transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), fibronectin (FN) in silicotic rat and to discuss the role of Egr-1 in the development of silicosis.

METHODSSilicotic animal model of rat was established, and the expressions of Egr-1, TGF-beta(1), FN in various lung cells of silicotic rat were analysed by using immunohistochemical technique (SP) and the image analysis.

RESULTSThe expressions of Egr-1 in bronchial epithelial cell, pulmonary macrophage, alveolar epithelium cell and interstitial cell in lung silicotic tissue (gray values: 118.58 +/- 5.65 - 168.52 +/- 5.67) were higher than those of controls (gray values: 166.23 +/- 5.23 - 188.12 +/- 8.35) during 1 - 28 days, and the expression was mainly in nucleus; the expressions of TGF-beta(1) in these cells (gray values: 123.49 +/- 5.65 - 170.24 +/- 3.56) were also higher than those of controls (166.53 +/- 6.25 - 198.56 +/- 4.53), and the expression was mainly in cytoplasm. The expressions of FN in bronchial epithelial cell, pulmonary macrophage and alveolar epithelial cell (gray values: 150.32 +/- 6.54 - 201.54 +/- 7.38) were lower, while those in interstitial cell (gray values: 121.43 +/- 5.65 - 167.55 +/- 6.35) were higher than those of controls. The changes of TGF-beta(1) and Egr-1 expression level in bronchial epithelial cell, pulmonary macrophage, alveolar epithelium cell and interstitial cell were synchronous during the experiment (1 - 28 days). Both of them were correlated with each other (r = 0.61, P < 0.01), while the expression of FN was not correlated with Egr-1, but correlated to TGF-beta(1) in interstitial cell (r = 0.46, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSilicon dioxide could up-regulate the expression of nuclear transcription factor Egr-1 in several kinds of cell in lung. The activated Egr-1 may coordinate the expression of TGF-beta(1) and FN to regulate the development of silicosis.

Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; Fibronectins ; analysis ; physiology ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; chemistry ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Silicosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; analysis ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis ; physiology

Granular cell ameloblastoma is a rare, benign neoplasm of the odontogenic epithelium. A case of massive granular cell ameloblastoma in a 44-year-old Thai female is reported. Histopathological features displayed a follicular type of ameloblastoma with an accumulation of granular cells residing within the tumor follicles. After treatment by partial mandibulectomy, the patient showed a good prognosis without recurrence in a 2-year follow-up. To characterize the granular cells in ameloblastoma, we examined the expression of basement membrane (BM) proteins, including collagen type IV, laminins 1 and 5 and fibronectin using immunohistochemistry. Except for the granular cells, the tumor cells demonstrated a similar expression of BM proteins compared to follicular and plexiform ameloblastomas in our previous study, whereas the granular cells showed strong positivity to laminins 1 and 5 and fibronectin. The increased fibronectin expression in granular cells suggests a possibility of age-related transformation of granular cells in ameloblastoma.
Adult ; Ameloblastoma ; chemistry ; pathology ; Basement Membrane ; chemistry ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; analysis ; Collagen Type IV ; analysis ; Female ; Fibronectins ; analysis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; chemistry ; pathology ; Laminin ; analysis ; Mandibular Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and its signaling transduction molecule Smad 2 and their significance in the development of glomerulosclerosis.

METHODSUsing in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to detect Smad 2 mRNA expression and TGF-beta1, collagen IV, fibronectin expression in renal biopsies from 61 cases with a spectrum of glomerulonephritis including IgA nephropathy (40 cases), membranous glomerulonephritis (10 cases) and sclerosing glomerulonephritis (11 cases), compared with 11 cases of glomerular mild lesion with image analysis system.

RESULTSWith the exception of Smad 2 mRNA expression in mild type IgA nephropathy, all other types of diseased glomeruli showed increased expression of both TGF-beta1 and Smad 2 mRNA when compared with the 11 cases of mild glomerular lesions. The expressions of glomerular TGF-beta1 and Smad 2 mRNA positively correlated with collagen IV and fibronectin deposition in the glomeruli.

CONCLUSIONSTGF-beta1 and Smad 2 may be involved in the excessive deposition of glomerular extracellular matrix and play an important role in the development of glomerulosclerosis.

Collagen Type IV ; analysis ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Fibronectins ; analysis ; Glomerulonephritis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Glomerulus ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Smad2 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1