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The fibronectin isoform containing the ed‐b oncofetal domain: A marker of angiogenesis
Author(s) -
Castellani Patrizia,
Viale Giuseppe,
Dorcaratto Alessandra,
Nicolo Guido,
Kaczmarek Janusz,
Querze Germano,
Zardi Luciano
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910590507
Subject(s) - gene isoform , angiogenesis , immunohistochemistry , fibronectin , biology , alternative splicing , microbiology and biotechnology , monoclonal antibody , pathology , antibody , cancer research , immunology , medicine , biochemistry , extracellular matrix , gene
Different fibronectin (FN) isoforms are generated by the alternative splicing of 3 regions (ED‐A, ED‐B and IIICS) of the primary transcript. The FN isoform containing the ED‐B sequence, a complete type‐III‐homology repeat, while having extremely restricted distribution in normal adult tissues, reveals high expression in fetal and tumor tissues. Using the monoclonal antibody (MAb) BC‐1, specific for the FN isoform containing the ED‐B sequence (B + ·FN), we demonstrate here, using immunohistochemical techniques, that while this FN isoform is undetectable in mature vessels, it is highly expressed during angiogenesis both in neoplastic and in normal tissues, as in the case of the functional layer of endometrium during the proliferative phase. B + ·FN is thus a marker for the formation of new vessels, and the BC‐I MAb may be a useful reagent for evaluating the level of the angiogenetic process in different neoplasms.