| pubmed-article:20672978 | pubmed:abstractText | The distribution of the collagen chains from ?1(IV) to ?6(IV) could serve as a basis for the characterization of type IV collagen. In this study, immunohistochemistry of the ocular anterior segment of adult mice was performed using specific monoclonal antibodies against each chain in the series from ?1(IV) to ?6(IV). The results show that the components of type IV collagen in vascular basement membranes are ?1(IV) and ?2(IV) with or without ?5(IV) and ?6(IV) chains and those in epithelium and muscle basement membranes are ?1(IV), ?2(IV), ?5(IV), and ?6(IV) chains. In corneal endothelium, pigmented epithelium of iris and ciliary body, and trabecular meshwork, ?3(IV) and ?4(IV) chains are also expressed in addition to ?1(IV), ?2(IV), ?5(IV), and ?6(IV) chains. Moreover, we investigated the change in molecular composition in ciliary body during postnatal development. ?3(IV) and ?4(IV) chains were also expressed in addition to ?1(IV), ?2(IV), ?5(IV), and ?6(IV) chains in ciliary pigmented epithelium basement membrane from 7 days after birth. This result suggests that the basement membranes gradually change their biochemical features owing to temporal regulation. Taken together, these findings suggest that the different distribution and the developmental expression of ?1(IV) to ?6(IV) chains are associated with the tissue-specific function of type IV collagen in basement membranes. | lld:pubmed |
