ISSN:
1365-2133
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background Fibulin-2 is a 195-kDa protein belonging to a novel family of extracellular matrix proteins that might be involved in microfibril and elastic fibre organization. Objectives To determine the localization of fibulin-2 in relation to elastic fibres in normal skin and in solar elastosis characterized by increased elastotic material in the papillary dermis. Methods The expression and synthesis of fibulin-2 was investigated by means of in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in normal and photoaged skin. Results Immunohistochemistry and elastic tissue staining revealed that fibulin-2 deposition mainly colocalized with microfibrils and elastin fibres, with a marked staining of elastotic material in solar elastosis. Western blot analysis demonstrated that in photoaged skin fibulin-2 showed the same electrophoretic mobility as in sun-protected skin. However, in actinic elastosis the amount of fibulin-2 was significantly higher. In addition, smaller degradation products were detectable, presumably reflecting increased proteinase activity in photodamaged skin. Conclusions This study shows that deposition of fibulin-2 and elastin is highly co-ordinated, indicating that this protein plays an important role in elastic fibre and microfibril formation in normal and actinically damaged skin.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.04337.x
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