Co-distribution of von Willebrand factor and fibronectin in cultured rhesus endothelial cells

The synthesis and secretion of von Willebrand factor (VWF, or Factor VIII-related antigen) and fibronectin by cultured endothelial cells from rhesus monkey choroid retina were demonstrated by immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase and single radial immunodiffusion techniques. Both VWF and fibronectin are localized in intracellular granules and extracellular fibrils. The results of double immunofluorescence staining and post-embedding immunoelectron microscopy showed that there was a co-distribution of VWF and fibronectin not only in pericellular fibrils where they co-aligned with each other to be the components of extracellular matrix, but also in intracellular granules, suggesting they were synthesized or translocated in the same compartment.