Korean J Dermatol.  1992 Jun;30(3):317-324.

Expression of type IV collagen and laminin genes by skin fibroblasts in culture

• Lee KS
• Song JY

Abstract

Basement membrane zone gene expression by fibroblast cultures was examined by molecular hybridizations with human sequence specific cDNAs corresponding to type 1V procollagen and laminin subunit polypeptides. Northern transfer analysis with total RNA revealed the presence of specific mRNA transcripts for al (IV) and a2 (1V) chains of type 1V procollagen as well as Bl and B2 chains of laminin. Laminin A chain mRNAs were not detected using the same RNA preparations. The molecular size of al (1V) and a2 (1V) procollagen mRNA revealed 6.8kb and 6.7kb, respectively. The molecular size of Bl chain of laminin revealed 5.6kb, and B2 chain revealed 8.2 and 5.5kb polymorphic transcripts. In slotblot analysis using densitometer, steady-state levels of type IV procollagen and laminin mRNAs indicated that they were in relatively low abunclance, as compaired with type I procollagen mRNA. Quantitative levels of al (IV) and laminin Bl chaii mRNAs were more abundant than those of a2 (IV) and laminin B2 mRNAs. The mRNA ratio of al (IV)/a2 (lV) and laminin Bl/B2 were 1.9 and 1.5, respectively. These results demonstrate evidence for differential regulation of the expression of different basement membrane zone molecules during the formation of basement membrane.

Keyword

Type IV collagen; Laminin; Genes; Fibroblasts

MeSH Terms

Basement Membrane
Collagen Type I
Collagen Type IV*
DNA, Complementary
Fibroblasts*
Gene Expression
Humans
Laminin*
Peptides
Procollagen
RNA
RNA, Messenger
Skin*
Collagen Type I
Collagen Type IV
DNA, Complementary
Laminin
Peptides
Procollagen
RNA
RNA, Messenger