[Dynamic changes in extracellular matrix and related interstitial cells in experimental organ sclerosis]

The dynamic changes of extracellular matrix (ECM) and effected interstitial cells in experimental sclerosis (fibrosis) of the liver, lung and kidney glomeruli of rats were studied by immunohistochemical methods with monospecific antibodies against fibronectin, laminin, collagen type I, III, IV, V, desmin, vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin. The results suggest that there exists an organ (tissue) sclerosis effective cell system involved in ECM synthesis. The activation usually initiates from the Ito cell (liver), primitive mesenchymal call (lung), and mesangial cell (glomeruli), sometimes followed by fibroblast and myofibroblast differentiation with the transformation of cytoskeleton expression. Desmin is the most sensitive marker to reflect the functional state of the organ sclerosis effective cell system from the resting to the activating state.