Cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix of cutaneous vessels in inflammatory processes: immunomorphological study

In pathological conditions, vascular modifications occur in various stages involving both vessel structure and adjacent extracellular matrix. The relationships between vascular cells and surrounding microenvironmental stroma are mediated by cytoskeleton. Our investigation showed a high number of vimentin- and actin-positive cells in the vascular cutaneous bed, mainly related to reactive vascularization phenomena, whereas vessel cells with a desmin-positive reaction were barely detectable. Furthermore, in newly formed vessels ultrastructure showed that basement membrane synthesis strictly depends on close contact between the endothelium and extracellular matrix. Our data give structural evidence of the close morphofunctional interactions existing between vascular cells and extracellular matrix.