IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF TYPE-V AND TYPE-XI COLLAGEN IN CARTILAGE USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

Monoclonal antibodies produced against pepsin-solubilized newborn rat skin type V collagen [alpha-1(V)]2-alpha-2(V), and chondrosarcoma type XI collagen [alpha-1(XI)-alpha-2(XI)-alpha-3(XI)] are used to localize the collagens in sections of the chondrosarcoma as well as the normal rat knee joint by indirect immunofluorescence. Immunostaining for type V collagen shows strong cellular staining of chondrocytes; while the interstitial matrix as well as the lacunae are not stained. In contrast, antitype XI stains not only chondrocytes, but the extracellular compartments as well. In ELISA, rat anti-type XI collagen reacts with its native antigen, but does not cross-react with native types I, II, III, or V collagen from rat. The distinct locations of type V and XI collagens in cartilaginous tissue suggest varied functional roles for these constituents in the tissue.