HIGH-LEVELS OF FIBRONECTIN IN THE STROMA OF AURAL CHOLESTEATOMA

Purpose: Because abundant fibronectin deposition is a hallmark of heal ing cutaneous wounds and provides a matrix for hyperproliferative and migratory epidermal cells, the distribution of fibronectin in aural ch olesteatoma was investigated immunohistochemically. Materials and Meth ods: A monoclonal antibody against the major cell binding domain of hu man fibronectin was used to stain 4-mu m cryosections of cholesteatoma tissue by the alkaline phospatase-antialkaline phosphatase method, Se ction of normal retroauricular skin served as control. Results: When p rocessed in parallel, fibronectin staining was much stronger in the st roma of cholesteatoma than in normal dermis. The squamous epithelium o f both tissues did not show any staining for fibronectin. Conclusions: These observations lend support to the view that the growth of choles teatoma epithelium reflects an aberrant regenerative process. (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company