Differential expression of the ED sequence-containing form of cellular fibronectin in embryonic and adult human tissues.

Monoclonal mouse hybridoma antibodies were obtained for secreted cellular fibronectin (cFn) from A8387 fibrosarcoma cells. One of them, 52-DH1 (DH), reacted exclusively with cFns but not with plasma Fns (pFns) in immunoblotting and solid-phase EIA. The DH antibody also recognized thermolysin cFn fragments and beta-galactosidase-Fn fusion protein which contained the ED sequence specific to at least some forms of cFns. On the other hand, the DH antibody failed to recognize a fusion protein that was otherwise identical but lacked the ED sequence. Thus, the antigenic determinant for the DH antibody was located to the ED sequence. The DH antibody was then used to study the expression of ED sequence containing cFn (EcFn). For comparisons, another monoclonal antibody, 52BF12 (BF), recognizing equally well both pFns and cFns, was used. Immunoblotting of pFn fragments indicated that this antibody had the antigenic determinant at or close to the cell-binding site of Fn. EcFn was revealed by the DH antibody in embryonic and adult fibroblasts and in a variety of other cultured normal and malignant human cells. In embryonic tissues EcFn was abundant in developing basement membranes, as shown in foetal kidney and muscle, while in adult tissues it was confined only to endothelia of larger blood vessels. Furthermore, in embryonic tissues the capillaries showed bright EcFn-positivity not found any more in adult tissues. Human plasma contained a small quantity of EcFn, which may hence have an endothelial origin. EcFn was also prominent in the stroma of malignant tumours as well as in reactive benign conditions, such as granulation tissue and decidual cells. The results suggest that EcFn is a form of the protein which may have a particular role in developing and reactive tissues in embryos and adults.