Studies on the deposition of laminin and type IV collagen in human oral mucosa transplanted to nude mice

Normal human oral mucosa (20 biopsies) and similar tissue transplanted to nude mice (44 transplants) were investigated for the presence of laminin and type IV collagen, using an indirect immunofluorescence staining technique. Laminin and type IV collagen were consistently found in the basement membrane area of the epithelial-stromal junction, and of the vessels of both normal oral mucosa and oral mucosal transplants. De novo synthesis of laminin and type IV collagen by transplanted epithelium was evidenced by the finding of an increased thickness of basement membrane deposits. New basement membrane-like material was also seen between the migrating human epithelial cells and the murine connective tissue. By application of species-specific monoclonal antibodies to human laminin and type IV collagen, it was demonstrated that human epithelial cells have the ability to participate in the information of their basement membranes. The use of both species-specific and species-unspecific antibodies showed that the vessel supply of the transplants was of both human and murine origin.