Characterization of cells containing factor XIII subunit a in benign and malignant buccal lesions

Abstract

In the present study, the distribution pattern and characteristics of cells containing Factor XIII subunit a (FXIII A) have been studied in benign and malignant lesions of human buccal mucosa. Tissues from four irritation fibromas and three squamous cell carcinomas were studied by means of double immunofluorescent staining techniques in which the detection of FXIII A was combined with a reaction with CD14 (recognizing a monocyte/macrophage differentiation marker antigen), Mac 387 (reacting with a special subset of macrophages), anti-HLA-DR, Ki-M7 (labelling phagocytosing macrophages) or Ki-67 (visualizing a nuclear antigen associated with cell proliferation) monoclonal antibodies. FXIII A was detected in cells of the connective tissue stroma in both benign and malignant buccal lesions. The number of these FXIII A-reactive cells (FXIII A+ cells) increased considerably in the tumour tissues, in particular in those surrounding tumour cell clusters. FXIII A+ cells scattered in the fibromatous tissues were spindle-shaped, whereas in the tumour stroma, large stellate cells predominated, and round cells were likewise labelled around blood vessels. FXIII A+ cells were labelled with CD14 and Ki-M7 in both fibromatous and tumoural buccal mucosa; however, they failed to show any reaction with Ki-67. FXIII A+ cells accumulated in the tumour stroma reacted for HLA-DR as well. These results indicate that in both the benign and malignant buccal lesions FXIII A is contained in a subpopulation of tissue macrophages, which represents a monocyte-derived (CD14+) and phagocytosing (Ki-M7+) cell population. The accumulation of the FXIII A+ cells in the tumour stroma is believed to be a result of direct migration from the circulating blood.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Factor XIIIa as a nerve‐associated transglutaminase

“…The a-subunit of FXIIIa belongs to a family consisting of several genes that encode for enzymes with a common active-site structure, well conserved among species (17). Accumulating evidence points to an additional role for FXIIIa in prolifera-tion of connective tissues via its expression by invading macrophages (18,19). In this study, we discovered some characteristics of the a-subunit of FXIIIa in fish plasma that are distinct from those of its mammalian counterpart.…”

Demonstration of TGF-? and XIII? in Endocardial Biopsies of Carcinoid Heart Disease Patients: an Immunofluorescence Study

“…In the present study we have shown that TGF-β co-localizes with the blood coagulation and wound healing protein XIII α in fibrotic lesions of carcinoid heart disease. Although the main function of XIII α is the cross-linking of fibrin molecules, it also takes part in wound healing and, as previous research indicated, in fibrotic processes [20, 21]. In this context it is noteworthy that fibrinogen and fibrin have been previously identified in carcinoid plaques [22].…”

Fibrohistiocytic differentiation in subcutaneous fatty tumors

“…AL has plump FXIIIa+dendritic cells (B). FXnia+ multivacuolated lipoblast-like cells amidst vessels in an angiolipoma in 35 year old male with multiple tumors (C). A-C x 400. sal sinus, a tissue devoid of fat, suggested that both the fat and HPC arose from the same precursor.…”

“…Marker studies suggest that FXIIIaH-stromal dendrophages are monocyte/macrophages that differentiate after migrating from the blood (23''^, 24,35,51). However, in utero, appearance of separate FXI-IIa+ and CD34+ dermal and stromal dendritic cells both predate the formation of the bone marrow (16,(25)(26)(27) and both cell types persist in adult stroma (16, 21, 23^, 50).…”

“…We have proposed that EXIIIa-f dendrophages are also pleiotropic and important cellular "btiilding blocks" of fibrovascular mesenchyme (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). The transgltitaminase EXIIIa, and, by inference, dendritic FXIIIa-l-histiocytes that produce the enzyme, are potent fibroblast mitogens (34)(35)(36)(37)(38). EX-IIIa modulates proliferation of (34) and protein synthesis by fibroblasts (37) and catalyzes polymerization of collagen, fibrin, and fibronectin (38).…”