Collagen type IV is a major component of the basal lamina of blood vessels. Six genetically distinct collagen type IV chains have been identified and are distributed in a tissue-specific manner. Here we define a novel function for soluble non-collagenous (NC1) domains of the alpha2(IV), alpha3(IV), and alpha6(IV) chains of human collagen type IV in the regulation of angiogenesis and tumor growt...

The effect of retinoic acid pretreatment on metastatic B16 melanoma cell adhesion in serum-free medium to tissue culture plastic precoated with fibronectin, laminin/nidogen, type I and type IV collagen was examined. Both control cells grown to subconfluence and cells treated with 10(-6) M-retinoic acid adhered and spread rapidly on fibronectin (greater than 75% following 1 h of incubation) but ...

Using in situ hybridization, individual cells expressing mRNAs for collagen types I and IV were localized in fixed-tissue sections of adult and fetal human optic nerve heads. Astroglial cells lining the cribriform plates and cells inside the cribriform plates of the lamina cribrosa had mRNA for collagen type IV. Cells in the glial columns, pial septa, and vascular wall also contained mRNA colla...

Type IV collagen in Caenorhabditis elegans is produced by two essential genes, emb-9 and let-2, which encode alpha1- and alpha2-like chains, respectively. The distribution of EMB-9 and LET-2 chains has been characterized using chain-specific antisera. The chains colocalize, suggesting that they may function in a single heterotrimeric collagen molecule. Type IV collagen is detected in all baseme...

Hsp47 is a molecular chaperone that specifically recognizes procollagen in the endoplasmic reticulum. Hsp47-null mouse embryos produce immature type I collagen and form discontinuous basement membranes. We established Hsp47-/- embryonic stem cell lines and examined formation of basement membrane and production of type IV collagen in embryoid bodies, a model for postimplantation egg-cylinder sta...

Hsp47 is a molecular chaperone that specifically recognizes procollagen in the endoplasmic reticulum. Hsp47-null mouse embryos produce immature type I collagen and form discontinuous basement membranes. We established Hsp47 / embryonic stem cell lines and examined formation of basement membrane and production of type IV collagen in embryoid bodies, a model for postimplantation egg-cylinder stag...

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is overexpressed in kidney diseases associated with extracellular matrix accumulation. Angiotensin II (ANG II) participates in renal fibrosis by the upregulation of growth factors, including CTGF, and extracellular matrix proteins, such as type IV collagen. During renal injury, ANG II and the macrophage-produced cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) may be...

Double immunofluorescence staining experiments designed to examine the synthesis and deposition of collagen types I and IV in cultured explants of embryonic mouse lung revealed the presence of connective tissue-like fibers that were immunoreactive with antitype IV collagen antibodies. This observation is contrary to the widely accepted belief that type IV collagen is found only in sheetlike arr...

BACKGROUND Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is an important component of diabetic nephropathy, which is characterized by increased expression of interstitial extracellular matrix components and aberrant expression of the basement membrane component collagen type IV. The present study examined the effect of high ambient glucose and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) on collagen secretion by...

OBJECTIVE The 7S domain of collagen type IV (P4NP_7S) assessed in plasma represents systemic collagen type IV formation. The objective of the study was to investigate the association of systemic collagen type IV formation with survival among patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS We performed an observational cohort study of 371 hemodialysis patients. Plasma P4NP_7S was analyzed using a sp...