Immunohistochemical study of cellular fibronectin in preretinal membranes.

Abstract

The presence of fibronectin has been shown in preretinal membranes from eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. It is not clear, however, which type of fibronectin (plasma or cellular) is present in preretinal membranes. A human cellular fibronectin antibody was used to immunohistochemically determine if cellular fibronectin only demonstrates presence or association with proliferation of preretinal membranes. The results revealed a diffuse distribution of cellular fibronectin within membranes extracted from proliferative vitreoretinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients, and a localized distribution of neovascular vessels in proliferative diabetic retinopathy membranes. Cellular fibronectin produced locally in preretinal membranes may contribute a local, cell-mediated process to cell proliferation or migration and the expression of cellular fibronectin by the cellular constituents of preretinal membranes is unique to this pathologic situation like proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.