TYPE-VIII COLLAGEN

Type VIII collagen is a product of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, m ast cells, microvascular endothelial cells and some tumour cells. It i s also present in a variety of extracellular matrices as diverse as sc lera, skin and glomerulus. Type VIII molecules have a proposed chain c omposition of [alpha 1(VIII)(2) alpha(2)(VIII)]. While the function of collagen type VIII is uncertain recent work has highlighted the impor tance of this collagen in the vasculature. Particularly significant ma y be its up-regulation in smooth muscle cell migration and potential r ole in maintaining the smooth muscle cell phenotype. It is interesting to speculate that this collagen may provide a substratum for a variet y of cells and facilitate movement of endothelial cells in angiogenesi s, smooth muscle cells in intimal invasion and myofibroblasts in fibro tic conditions. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.