ULTRASTRUCTURAL-LOCALIZATION OF CD36 IN HUMAN HEPATIC SINUSOIDAL LINING CELLS, HEPATOCYTES, HUMAN HEPATOMA (HEPG2-A1G) CELLS, AND C32 AMELANOTIC MELANOMA-CELLS

CD36 is expressed in the endothelial cells of some human organs, but t he ultrastructural localization of this molecule in the sinusoidal lin ing cells of human liver is not well established. We report the ultras tructural localization of CD36 in the liver using a novel murine monoc lonal antibody against CD36, namely MO30, as a primary antibody. Immun ocytochemistry by the postembedding method showed that CD36 was locali zed in endothelial cells of sinusoids and in hepatocyte microvilli pro truding into the space of Disse. Moreover, in cultured human hepatoma (HepG2-A16) cells and C32 amelanotic melanoma cells, MO30 reacted with microvilli. Hence, CD36 expressed on these cells may be involved in r ecognition and/or entry of these cells by malaria sporozoites. (C) 199 4 Academic Press, Inc.