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Ultrastructural localization of milk fat globule membrane antigens in human breast carcinomas
Author(s) -
Corcoran David,
Walker Rosemary A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711610211
Subject(s) - cytoplasm , immunoelectron microscopy , endoplasmic reticulum , pathology , biology , cell , cell membrane , ultrastructure , vesicle , globules of fat , intracellular , immunohistochemistry , cell type , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , membrane , biochemistry , immunology , milk fat , anatomy , medicine , food science , linseed oil
The localization of milk fat globule membrane components has been assessed using post‐fixation immunoelectron microscopy with three different antibodies for a group of breast carcinomas of different type and histological differentiation. For well differentiated carcinomas localization was in relation to the cell membrane, with polarization being evident in a proportion of cases. Moderately differentiated carcinomas showed a combined picture of cell membrane, vesicular, and intracytoplasmic luminal localization. The latter is a feature of infiltrating lobular carcinomas. Poorly differentiated carcinomas exhibited vesicular labelling throughout the cytoplasm, with no cell membrane localization. No labelling was seen over endoplasmic reticulum. It is proposed that carcinomas exhibit defects in intracellular transport of milk fat globule membrane components resulting in failure of expression at the cell surface and accumulation of vesicles within the cytoplasm, the extent of change relating to tumour differentiation.