Comparative distribution of fibronectin and type III collagen in normal human tissues

The distribution of fibronectin (FN) and type III collagen (IIIC) in normal adult human tissues have been directly compared using immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques on fresh frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin embedded material. Although in many tissues localisation of these two proteins appeared similar, two major differences were identified: (1) Where the ratio of extracellular matrix to cells is high (e.g. in breast, intestinal submucosa), FN was scanty and present predominantly in association with cells, whether of epithelial, endothelial or mesenchymal origin. IIIC was present diffusely throughout interstitial connective tissue. (2) In the highly specialised vascular beds of spleen and renal glomeruli, FN was abundant and accompanied by little or no IIIC. It is postulated that these differences reflect a generalised more intimate association of FN with cell surfaces and basal laminae which is not always discernible by light microscopy. Proximity of FN and IIIC may nevertheless be important for cell-matrix interactions. It was also noted that "reticulin" fibres as defined by silver impregnation do not all have an identical composition.