This antibody reacts with collagen IV and does not cross-react with other collagen types. It does not cross-react with human vitronectin, fibronectin or chondroitin sulfate A, B, or C. Collagen IV is present in the basal lamina and does not form fibrils or fibers. The positive or negative demonstration of basal lamina using immunostaining helps to distinguish some types of benign lesions from malignant tumors such as tubular carcinoma of the breast.
Schwannomas and leiomyomas and their well differentiated malignant counterparts usually immunoreact in a characteristic fashion to the monoclonal antibody for type IV Collagen. The vascular nature of neoplasms such as hemangiopericytoma and epithelioid hemangio-endothelioma can be revealed by type IV Collagen with more reliability than other non-specific stains.
The composition of theextracellular matrixof all vertebrates is dominated by a class of molecules known ascollagens, each with a unique feature suited to its function and location.Collagens are known to have multiple functions.They are involved in tissue differentiation, morphogenesis and repair; play a role in the maintenance of tissue architecture; and form the filtration barrier of blood vessels.
Collagen Type IV is a primary component in the basal laminathat is used as a marker to observe the presence of the lamina and examine its structure. In addition to the epithelial basal lamina,Anti-Collagen Type IV stains mesenchymal components.
It is useful for identifyingsoft tissue cancers including schwannomas and leiomyomas. Anti-Collagen Type IV frequently reacts with these tissues after becoming well-differentiated and malignant. The use of Anti-Collagen Type IV produces more reliable results than non-specific silver reticulum stains when investigating the vascular elements of neoplasms, hemangiopericytoma, angiosarcoma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.
