Glutathione peroxidase-3 (Gpx3), the extracellular glutathione peroxidase synthesized largely in the kidney, binds to basement membranes of renal cortical epithelial cells. The present study assessed extrarenal expression of Gpx3 using RT-PCR and presence of Gpx3 protein using immunocytochemistry. Gpx3 expression was higher in kidney and epididymis than in other tissues. Gpx3 bound to basement ...

The distribution of the basement membrane glycoprotein laminin was studied by the immunoperoxidase technique in benign and malignant human breast tissue and in axillary lymph nodes from patients with breast cancer. An antiserum prepared against rat laminin was used. The specificity of this antiserum against human laminin was studied using the FL cell line of human epithelial-like cells derived ...

To understand the corneal regeneration induced by bevacizumab, we investigated the structure changes of stroma and basement membrane regeneration. A Stick soaked in 0.5 N NaOH onto the mouse cornea and 2.5 mg/ml of bevacizumab was delivered into an alkali-burned cornea (2 μl) by subconjunctival injections at 1 hour and 4 days after injury. At 7 days after injury, basement membrane regeneration ...

Receptors mediating cell-basement membrane interactions are potent regulators of epithelial architecture and function, and alterations in signals from the basement membrane are implicated in the aberrant behavior of carcinoma cells. In this study, we have investigated the role of the basement membrane receptor dystroglycan (DG) in mammary epithelial cell function, and the significance of loss o...

Basement membranes are extracellular matrices essential for embryonic development in animals. Peroxidasins are extracellular peroxidases implicated in the unique sulfilimine cross-links between type IV basement membrane collagens. Loss of function in the Caenorhabditis elegans peroxidasin PXN-2 results in fully penetrant embryonic or larval lethality. Using genetic suppressor screening, we find...

Specific antibodies to laminin, type IV collagen, basement-membrane proteoglycan, and fibronectin have been used in immunofluorescence microscopy to study the development of basement membranes of the embryonic kidney. Kidney tubules are known to form from the nephrogenic mesenchyme as a result of an inductive tissue interaction. This involves a change in the composition of the extracellular mat...

With the aid of the electron microscope, the ultrastructural changes associated with bullous keratopathy were studied in corneal specimens from a patient with congenital hereditary corneal dystrophy and from one with congenital glaucoma. Within the subepithelial bullae of both specimens, infoldings of the basal plasma membrane of the basal epithelial cells could be observed to contain basement-...

The effect of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on retinal capillary basement membrane thickening was examined in the spontaneously diabetic BB/W-rat. Four months of diabetes resulted in significant thickening of the basement membranes of both the superficial and deep capillary nets of the retina. This characteristic change of the retinal microvasculature in diabetes was completely preve...

A polyol-pathway related perturbation of myo-inositol metabolism has been invoked in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, including retinal microvasculopathy. Previous studies have demonstrated a beneficiary effect of aldose reductase inhibition on basement membrane thickening of retinal microvessels in diabetic animals. In the present study we demonstrate a significant but partial effec...

In the two-dimensional discrete element modeling of displacement of sedimentary layers caused by faulting within the basement, we attempted to move a rigid basement as if it were an elastic basement by controlling its motion through application of dislocation solutions. An advantage of our modeling procedure is that we can discuss displacement fields of sedimentary layers in connection with fau...