Connexin 43 Communication Channels in Follicular Dendritic Cell Development and in Follicular Lymphomas

Figure 1

Connexin 43 expression in secondary lymphoid follicles of reactive human tonsils. Cx43 immunoreaction (red) is accumulated mainly in the light zone localizing less Ki67 positive lymphocytes ((a), green) and more CD21 positive FDC processes ((b), green) than the dark zone (circled areas) of germinal center in consecutive sections. Cx43 (green) colocalizes with desmoplakin (red) produced by FDC ((c); arrowheads). Cx43 plaques (green) are also closely associated with B cells ((d); arrowheads) and rarely with CD4 positive T cells ((e); Cx43: red, CD4: green, arrowhead) in the germinal center. Immunofluorescence, nuclear staining in (a), (b), and (e) with Hoescht (blue) and in (d) with 7-aminoactinomycin D (red). LZ: light zone and MZ: mantle zone. Scale bar on (a) shows 30 µm on (a) and (b); 15 µm on (c) and (e); and 7 µm on (d).

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