Fig. 4.

Fibrillin deposition patterns. (A) Pattern A: wide-mesh honeycomb pattern. Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) are visible in the large fibrillin-free spaces. (B) Pattern B: thin strands of fibrillin arising from the honeycomb borders subdivide fibrillin-free spaces into smaller ones. The space between different honeycombs is also filled by a thin net of fibrillin fibers. (C) Pattern C: the wide honeycomb mesh spaces are filled by an almost continuous net of fibrillin. Some of the original honeycomb pattern is still recognizable. (D) Pattern D: fibrillin forms an almost continuous network with an uneven thickness. The honeycomb is no longer recognizable. (E) and (F) Alternative fibrillin deposition patterns in lymphatic HDMECs. (E) Pattern α: thin short strands of fibrillin form a dense mesh. (F) Pattern β: fibrillin strands unite in longer filaments that arrange in semicircular arrays. Original magnification ×40.