Castellucci M, Classen-Linke I, Mühlhauser J, Kaufmann P, Zardi L, Chiquet-Ehrismann R
Department of Anatomy, RWTH Aachen, Federal Republic of Germany.
Histochemistry. 1991;95(5):449-58. doi: 10.1007/BF00315740.
Tenascin is a large glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix. Previous reports have demonstrated that it is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal interfaces and is expressed during embryonic and tumour development, wound healing, cell proliferation and it may be involved in immunomodulation. The human placenta shows numerous features related to these aspects. We have investigated the presence of tenascin in the human placenta throughout pregnancy by immunohistochemistry. We used monoclonal (mAb) and polyclonal (pAb) antibodies to tenascin, a mAb to fibrin, a pAb to fibrinogen, and the mAb Ki-67 as proliferation marker. Tenascin was highly expressed in the mesenchymal villi which are considered the basis of growth and differentiation of the villous trees. Moreover, fibrinoid deposits at the surfaces of the villous trees were always separated from the fetal stroma by tenascin. The stroma of villi encased in fibrinoid was also positive for tenascin. This glycoprotein was also expressed in the villous stroma directly apposed to cell islands and cell columns. In the proximal portions of both epithelial structures, cytotrophoblast was Ki-67 positive. These data show that tenascin is expressed during the development of the placenta, particularly in the mesenchymal villi, cell islands and cell columns. These structures are considered to be the proliferating units of the villous trees. Tenascin underlying fibrinoid deposits suggests that it also participates in repair mechanisms. Thus, in the human placenta tenascin expression can be correlated with villous growth, cell proliferation, and fibrinoid deposition. Its role in immunoprotection of fetal tissues in areas where syncytiotrophoblast as barrier is missing or damaged is discussed.
腱生蛋白是细胞外基质中的一种大型糖蛋白。先前的报道表明，它与上皮-间充质界面相关，在胚胎发育、肿瘤发生、伤口愈合、细胞增殖过程中表达，并且可能参与免疫调节。人类胎盘呈现出与这些方面相关的众多特征。我们通过免疫组织化学方法研究了整个孕期人胎盘中腱生蛋白的存在情况。我们使用了针对腱生蛋白的单克隆抗体（mAb）和多克隆抗体（pAb）、针对纤维蛋白的mAb、针对纤维蛋白原的pAb以及作为增殖标志物的mAb Ki-67。腱生蛋白在间充质绒毛中高度表达，间充质绒毛被认为是绒毛树生长和分化的基础。此外，绒毛树表面的类纤维蛋白沉积物总是通过腱生蛋白与胎儿基质分隔开。包裹在类纤维蛋白中的绒毛基质对腱生蛋白也呈阳性反应。这种糖蛋白还在紧邻细胞岛和细胞柱的绒毛基质中表达。在这两种上皮结构的近端部分，细胞滋养层Ki-67呈阳性。这些数据表明，腱生蛋白在胎盘发育过程中表达，特别是在间充质绒毛、细胞岛和细胞柱中。这些结构被认为是绒毛树的增殖单位。类纤维蛋白沉积物下方的腱生蛋白表明它也参与修复机制。因此，在人胎盘中，腱生蛋白的表达与绒毛生长、细胞增殖和类纤维蛋白沉积相关。本文还讨论了在合体滋养层作为屏障缺失或受损的区域，腱生蛋白在胎儿组织免疫保护中的作用。
