Type IV collagen with a triple-helical structure composed of three α chains is a major component of basement membrane. Previously, we reported that non-triple helical form of type IV collagen α1 chain (NTHα1(IV)) was isolated from human placenta and the culture media of human cells. In the present study, we report on the localization of NTH α1(IV) with a monoclonal antibody #370, exclusively re...

BACKGROUND Tubular atrophy, dilation and interstitial fibrosis are common in tubulointerstitial lesions, but the precise roles and inter-relationships of these components in the development of interstitial lesions have not been determined. This study focused on the origin and roles of atrophic tubules in the peritubular deposition of type IV collagen in a rat renal ablation model. METHODS Mal...

Three distinctive heparin-binding sites were observed in type IV collagen by the use of rotary shadowing: in the NC1 domain and at distances 100 and 300 nm from the NC1 domain. Scatchard analysis indicated different affinities for these sites. Electron microscopic analysis of heparin-type IV collagen interaction with increasing salt concentrations showed the different affinities to be NC1 great...

Relatively little is known of the growth requirements for regenerating axons of the peripheral nervous system of adult animals. In the present study, we show that extracellular matrix material secreted by the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm tumor cell line (matrigel) supports axonal growth from explanted peripheral nerve-dorsal root ganglia (DRG) preparations of adult mice and amphibia in serum-free medi...

Transduction of signals initiating motility by extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules differed depending on the type of matrix molecule and whether the ligand was in solution or bound to a substratum. Laminin, fibronectin, and type IV collagen stimulated both chemotaxis and haptotaxis of the A2058 human melanoma cell line. Peak chemotactic responses were reached at 50-200 nM for laminin, 50-100 n...

We previously reported that one of the main components of the sclerotic material in human glomerular diseases was type IV collagen. In this study we examined the contribution of increased synthesis to this process at the gene expression level. Sufficient material has not been available to study type IV collagen synthesis by normal or sclerotic glomeruli in humans. We took advantage of the avail...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the significance of type IV collagen, metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs). METHODS Expression was quantified in 44 LSCC and 22 adjacent non-cancer normal tissues using a streptavidin-peroxidase conjugated immunohistochemistry and associati...

Immunohistochemistry was used to identify basement membrane components and examine their production by associated cells. Four substances were identified in a series of basement membranes in rats aged 20 days to 34 months, namely, type IV collagen, laminin, heparan sulfate proteoglycan, and fibronectin. They were then all localized to the basal lamina part of basement membranes and, presumably, ...

Critical roles for liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in liver fibrosis have been demonstrated, while little is known regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms of drugs delivered to the LSECs. Our previous study revealed that plumbagin plays an antifibrotic role in liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated whether plumbagin alleviates capillarization of hepatic sinusoids by dow...