High levels of fibronectin in the stroma of aural cholesteatoma

Abstract

Purpose: Because abundant fibronectin deposition is a hallmark of healing cutaneous wounds and provides a matrix for hyperproliferative and migratory epidermal cells, the distribution of fibronectin in aural cholesteatoma was investigated immunohistochemically.

Materials and methods: A monoclonal antibody against the major cell binding domain of human fibronectin was used to stain 4-micron cryosections of cholesteatoma tissue by the alkaline phospatase-antialkaline phosphatase method. Section of normal retroauricular skin served as control.

Results: When processed in parallel, fibronectin staining was much stronger in the stroma of cholesteatoma than in normal dermis. The squamous epithelium of both tissues did not show any staining for fibronectin.

Conclusions: These observations lend support to the view that the growth of cholesteatoma epithelium reflects an aberrant regenerative process.