Fibroblast Surface Protein Products

Overgrowth of epithelial cells by fibroblasts has long been an obstacle to cultivation of normal and abnormal epithelial cells. In addition, apart from the functional significance of cells characteristics, the characterization of cell lines is important for correlation of cultures with tissue origin, identification of the lineage to which the cells belong or the precursor status of the cells. Monoclonal antibodies to fibroblast surface protein should provide a powerful tool for control of fibroblast growth in a variety of human cell culture systems, such as thymic epithelial (TE) cell cultures allowing the growth of highly enriched populations of the TE cells. It is also useful for flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting.