Evidence for a role of the hepatic endocytic compartment in the modulation of the extracellular matrix

The presence of fibronectin in rat liver endocytic compartment was investigated using biochemical and immunological approaches. Three endosome subfractions were separated from postmitochondrial lysosome supernatants using sucrose and isoosmotic Nycodenz gradients. Using these endosomes the presence of fibronectin in the "early" and "late" endosome subfractions and in a receptor-enriched fraction was demonstrated by Western blot analysis. Furthermore, immunofluorescence studies using an anti-rat fibronectin antiserum and an anti-rat endosome antiserum showed similar patterns of staining in frozen liver sections. The results indicate that the components of the extracellular matrix extend into the endocytic compartment and suggest that fibronectin is internalised in a manner similar to that of some plasma membrane proteins.