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Thrombospondin: a component of microfibrils in various tissues
B B Arbeille1, F M Fauvel-Lafeve, M B Lemesle
1Unité de Microscopic Electronique, Hôpital Bretonneau, Tours, France.
Summary
Thrombospondin (TSP) and GP 128 glycoproteins are located in microfibrils within basement membranes of human and porcine tissues. This suggests their role in attaching basement membranes to connective tissue and potentially influencing blood platelet interactions in arteries.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Histology
Background:
- Thrombospondin (TSP) and microfibril-associated GP 128 are glycoproteins with roles in extracellular matrix organization.
- Understanding their precise localization is crucial for elucidating their functions in tissue structure and cell adhesion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the localization of human platelet thrombospondin (TSP) and microfibril-associated GP 128 in human and porcine tissues.
- To determine the association of these glycoproteins with specific extracellular matrix components.
Main Methods:
- Immunogold labeling using antisera against human TSP and GP 128.
- Electron microscopy was employed for high-resolution visualization.
- Analysis was performed on fixed sections of human placenta, porcine arteries, and porcine skin.
Main Results:
- Both antibodies recognized the same structures in all tested human and porcine tissues.
- TSP and GP 128 were localized to basement membranes, specifically within microfibrillar structures.
- These microfibrils were situated at the junction between the basement membrane and adjacent connective tissue.
Conclusions:
- GP 128 and TSP are associated with microfibrils in the extracellular matrix.
- This association suggests a role in anchoring basement membranes to the connective tissue.
- Their presence in arterial subendothelial microfibrils may be relevant to blood platelet interaction and subendothelium thrombogenicity.