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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Non-contact, Label-free Monitoring of Cells and Extracellular Matrix using Raman Spectroscopy
Published on: May 29, 2012
Increased deposition of fibulin-2 in solar elastosis and its colocalization with elastic fibres
N Hunzelmann1, R Nischt, P Brenneisen
1Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Joseph Stelzmann Str. 9, 50924 Cologne, Germany. nico.hunzelmann@uni-koeln.de
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.
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