EXPRESSION PATTERNS OF EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX COMPONENTS IN NATIVE AND CULTURED NORMAL HUMAN THYROID-TISSUE AND IN HUMAN TOXIC ADENOMA TISSUE

The extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membranes (BM, a, speciali zed form of ECM) greatly influence proliferation, differentiation, and function of cells and the structure of tissues. While a considerable amount of information is available on thyroid cellular proliferation, differentiation and function, much less is known about thyroid ECM and BM. In this study the presence of the ECM/BM components fibronectin, collagen IV, alpha(1),beta(1), gamma(1) laminin, several laminin varia nts, osteonectin, and perlecan was demonstrated in cryosections of non adenomatous and toxic adenoma human thyroid tissue. Also, positive imm unohistochemical staining for collagen nir, laminin, perlecan, and fib ronectin was obtained in sections of human thyroid tissue cultured in a three-dimensional (alginate) culture system. The present study provi des methods and data that will facilitate the investigation of the int eraction between cells and ECM in thyroid tissue.