Fibronectin and atherosclerosis.

Fibronectin is a polymorphic glycoprotein of plasma, other body fluids and connective tissue, and it occurs in an insoluble and a soluble form. Insoluble fibronectin is found associated with basement membranes and in loose connective tissue matrix as well as in the pericellular matrix formed around cultured adherent cells, such as endothelial, fibroblastic and smooth muscle cells. In these positions fibronectin apparently functions as a substrate for cell attachment and as a scaffold for cell migration and movement. Soluble fibronectin, present e.g. in the circulation (300 micronm/ml) exhibits some important interations with other proteins. It is covalently cross-linked to fibrin during thrombus formation and binds to collagen. Fibronectin is released from platelets during their aggregation and soluble fibronectin potentiates the action of plasminogen activator. We have detected fibronectin in the sub-endothelium, in the matrix of smooth muscle cells of the media and in the adventitia of arteries. By using immunohistological techniques we have further found that fibronectin is prominent in atherosclerotic lesions of the intima, especially in developing fibrous plaques. Fibronectin was also prominent in experimentally induced atherosclerotic lesions. These findings suggest that fibronectin is an indicator of connective tissue formation in atherosclerotic processes and that the protein can have a role in their pathogenesis.