Studies conducted at University of Paris on immunology recently published
2007 AUG 21 -- New investigation results, "Collagen alpha5 and alpha2(IV) chain coexpression: Analysis of skin biopsies of Alport patients," are detailed in a study published in Kidney International. "Alport syndrome is a collagen type IV disease caused by mutations in the COL4A5 gene with the X-linked form being most prevalent. The resultant alpha5(IV) collagen chain is a component of the glomerular and skin basement membranes (SBMs)," scientists writing in the journal Kidney International report. "Immunofluorescent determination of the alpha5(IV) chain in skin biopsies is the procedure of choice to identify patients. In 30% of patients, however, the mutant protein is still found in the SBM resulting in a normal staining pattern. In order to minimize or eliminate false results, we compared the distribution of the alpha2(IV) chain (another SBM component) and the alpha5(IV) chain by standard double label immunofluorescence (IF) and by confocal laser scanning microcopy. The study was performed on 55 skin biopsies of patients suspected of Alports and five normal control specimens. In normal skin, IF showed the classical linear pattern for both collagens along the basement membrane. Additionally, decreased alpha5(IV) was found in the bottom of the dermal papillary basement membrane. Confocal analysis confirmed the results and show alpha5(IV) focal interruptions. In suspected patients, both techniques showed the same rate of abnormal alpha5(IV) expression: segmental in women and absent in men. Our results show a physiological variation of alpha5(IV) location with focal interruptions and decreased expression in the bottom of the dermal basement membrane," wrote de Serre N. Patey-Mariaud and colleagues, University of Paris. The researchers concluded: "Comparison of alpha5(IV) with alpha2(IV) expression is simple and eliminates technical artifacts.Kidney International (2007) 72, 512-516; doi:10.1038/sj.ki.5002365; published online 6 June 2007." Patey-Mariaud and colleagues published their study in Kidney International (Collagen alpha5 and alpha2(IV) chain coexpression: Analysis of skin biopsies of Alport patients. Kidney International, 2007;72(4):512-6). Additional information can be obtained by contacting N. Patey-Mariaud de Serre, Universite Paris Descartes, 1Dept. of Pathology, Tumorotheque APHP Necker Hospital, Inserm U838, Paris, France. The publisher of the journal Kidney International can be contacted at: Blackwell Publishing Inc., 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA. Keywords: France, Paris, Immunology. This article was prepared by Life Science Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Life Science Weekly via NewsRx.com.
|
