TY - JOUR
T1 - Structure of basement membranes in malignant melanoma and nevocytic nevi
AU - Schmoeckel, Christian
AU - Stolz, Wilhelm
AU - Sakai, Lynn Y.
AU - Burgeson, Robert E.
AU - Timpl, Rupert
AU - Krieg, Thomas
N1 - Funding Information:
Manuscript received June 16, 1988; accepted for publication November 14, 1988. This work was supported by a grant from the Wilhelm-Sander-Stiftung (85.005.1) and from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ti 95/6-3) and the Erwin-Riesch-Stiftung. Reprint requests to: Th. Krieg, M.D., Dermatologische Klinik und Poli-klinik der Universitat, Munchen, Frauenlobstr. 9-11, D-8000 Miinchen 2, F.R.G.
PY - 1989/5
Y1 - 1989/5
N2 - Basement membranes found around tumor cells in nevocytic nevi, Spitz's nevi, and malignant melanomas were analyzed by electron microscopy and antibody staining for several basement membrane proteins. Nevocytic nevi and Spitz's nevi showed a distinct, occasionally discontinuous lamina densa regardless of whether they were located in junctional zones of the epidermis or within the dermis. All basement membranes around nests of aggregated nevus cells, however, lacked anchoring fibrils. This correlated with the absence of type VII collagen. In contrast, type IV collagen, laminin, and nidogen were present at the periphery of the nevus cell clusters in agreement with the presence of an intact lamina densa. Aggregated tumor cells in malignant melanomas were bordered by a lamina densa when located in a junctional position and lacked this structure when they had migrated into the dermis. This process was accompanied by a drastically reduced staining for collagen type IV and nidogen, whereas laminin was still detectable. Anchoring fibrils and their molecular correlate, type VII collagen, were consistently absent. These observations demonstrate major alterations in the composition of basement membranes around malignant melanomas, which can be an important factor for the invasive growth and formation of metastases of these tumors.
AB - Basement membranes found around tumor cells in nevocytic nevi, Spitz's nevi, and malignant melanomas were analyzed by electron microscopy and antibody staining for several basement membrane proteins. Nevocytic nevi and Spitz's nevi showed a distinct, occasionally discontinuous lamina densa regardless of whether they were located in junctional zones of the epidermis or within the dermis. All basement membranes around nests of aggregated nevus cells, however, lacked anchoring fibrils. This correlated with the absence of type VII collagen. In contrast, type IV collagen, laminin, and nidogen were present at the periphery of the nevus cell clusters in agreement with the presence of an intact lamina densa. Aggregated tumor cells in malignant melanomas were bordered by a lamina densa when located in a junctional position and lacked this structure when they had migrated into the dermis. This process was accompanied by a drastically reduced staining for collagen type IV and nidogen, whereas laminin was still detectable. Anchoring fibrils and their molecular correlate, type VII collagen, were consistently absent. These observations demonstrate major alterations in the composition of basement membranes around malignant melanomas, which can be an important factor for the invasive growth and formation of metastases of these tumors.
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U2 - 10.1016/0022-202X(89)90179-6
DO - 10.1016/0022-202X(89)90179-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 2497191
AN - SCOPUS:0024363438
SN - 0022-202X
VL - 92
SP - 663
EP - 668
JO - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
JF - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
IS - 5
ER -