Immunfluorescenz-untesuchungen bei magen-und mammakarcinomen sowie gutartigen mammaerkrankungen

Heterogeneity in the immunolocalization of cytokeratin-specific monoclonal antibodies in the rat lung: evaluation of three different alveolar epithelial cell types

The distribution of individual cytokeratin polypeptides in the adult rat lung parenchyma was investigated by immunohistochemistry with 44 monoclonal and 2 polyclonal antibodies. Simple epithelial cytokeratins 7, 8, 18 and 19 were found to be expressed differently in alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells. Three distinct types of alveolar cells were detected according to their pattern of immunoreactivity: type II cells strongly expressing cytokeratins 8 and 18 and weakly expressing cytokeratins 7 and 19 in the cell periphery; type I cells predominantly positive for cytokeratins 7 and 19 and weakly for cytokeratin 8; and a newly defined third cell type III (alveolar brush cell) with cytokeratin 18 abundantly expressed but organized in an unusual intracellular ("globular") structure. The latter cell type failed to bind the type II specific Maclura pomifera lectin, and contained no surfactant proteins. Bronchial epithelial cells exhibited a more or less uniform staining pattern for cytokeratins 8, 18 and 19 and focally for cytokeratins 4 and 7.

Patterns of cytokeratins and vimentin in guinea pig and mouse eye tissue: evidence for regional variations in intermediate filament expression in limbal epithelium

The anatomical distribution of different individual cytokeratin polypeptides and of vimentin was investigated by means of immunofluorescence with 41 monoclonal antibodies in guinea pig and mouse eyes. Simple epithelial type cytokeratins 7, 8, 18, and 19 selectively decorated conjunctival goblet cell clusters in mouse specimens and a continuous superficial cell layer of the corresponding part of guinea pig conjunctiva. A changed pattern of squamous epithelial type cytokeratins was found in the limbal region of the guinea pig eye as compared to the corneal epithelium. Cytokertains 3 and 17, which stained the entire corneal epithelium, were not detected, whereas cytokeratin 4, 5 and 13 were expressed. A focal vimentin and cytokeratin coexpression in the limbus of guinea pig is interpreted as indicating corneal stem cells. Similar patterns of expressions were found in the mouse ocular surface. In both species, a cytokeratin 4 staining of basal conjunctival epithelial cells could be detected. The neuroectodermally derived epithelia of the eye such as the retinal pigment epithelium and the ciliary body epithelia expressed solely the cytokeratin pair 8/18.

Heterogeneity in the immunolocalization of cytokeratin specific monoclonal antibodies in the rat eye: evaluation of unusual epithelial tissue entities

The immunocytochemical localization of cytokeratin and vimentin in rat eye tissues was investigated using a panel of 39 monoclonal antibodies specific for single or multiple of cytokeratin polypeptides and one polyclonal anti CK20 antiserum. The retinal and the ciliary body pigment epithelial only expressed cytokeratins 8 and 18, whereas the fetal retinal pigment epithelium and focally the adult epithelium, in the transition zone of retina and ciliary body, exhibited a reactivity for cytokeratin 19. In contrast, the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium was positive for vimentin only. In the rat conjunctiva distributed goblet cell clusters were selectively stained with cytokeratin 7, 8, 18 and 19 specific monoclonal antibodies. Among them a group of cytokeratin 8 and 18 specific monoclonal antibodies which stained the goblet cells as well as cytokeratin 8 and 18 positive internal controls did not react with either the cytokeratin 8 and 18 positive neuroectodermal cells of the rat eye nor the rat choroid plexus epithelium. This indicates differences in the phenotype e.g. conformational epitope changes, of neuroectodermal derived and other cytokeratins. The corneal and conjunctival epithelium showed a more complex distribution of squamous epithelium type cytokeratins. The limbal region as a transient zone connecting both epithelia exhibited a changing cytokeratin pattern. In general, the study emphasized the necessity to work with an enlarged antibody panel to avoid misleading results in the immunolocalization of cytokeratins.

Detection of GFAP in vertebral fibrocartilage in human fetal and newborn tissue

Previously we reported the coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin in nucleus pulposus cells in fetal life and childhood (Stosiek et al. 1988). In this study, we observed also an unexpected reaction of an antibody against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) with some chondroblasts in fibrous cartilage, which will here be published using an enlarged panel of mono- and polyclonal antibodies specific for GFAP.