Appearance and distribution of laminin a chain isoforms and integrin α2, α3, α6, β1, and β4 subunits in the developing human small intestinal mucosa

Background: Laminin, a major component of basement membranes, is well known in its classical heterotrimeric form (B1-A-B2) to regulate diverse biological functions, including cell polarization and differentiation. However, the role of merosin, a laminin-like molecule in which an M chain is substituted for its homologous A chain, remains largely unknown. Methods: In the present study, we analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence the expression and distribution of these four laminin chains as well as the integrins α2β1, α3β1,α6β1, and α6β4, four potential recptors, at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface of the developing human small intestine, with a panel of specific monoclonal antibodies. Results: Beginning at 7 weeks of gestation and throughout mucosal organogenesis, the B1 and B2 chains were uniformly detected at the epithelial basement membrane. The A chain also was detected beginning at 7 weeks, and its distribution at the basement membrane remained uniform throughout villus (9+ weeks) and crypt (16+ weeks) formation. In contrast, M chain expression was not observed until 16 weeks; between 16 and 20 weeks, it was exclusively associated with the base of epithelial cells that comprised the forming crypts. Integrins α6β1 and α6β4, as determined by their subunit immunolocalization, appeared to be expressed by all enterocytes from 7 to 20 weeks. In contrast, the expression of the α2β1 and α3β1 integrins was found time- and site-restricted. The α2 subunit was predominantly detected in the epithelial cells of the intervillous area and its derivative, the crypt, whereas the α3 subunit was strongly expressed by all epithelial cells except those located at the bottom of 19–20-week-old crypts. Conclusions: Taken together, these observations demonstrate that both compositional changes in the basement membrane and differential expression of receptors occur during human intestinal organogenesis, suggesting that epithelial cell-matrix interactions play a role during development. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.