Ultrastructural analysis of the ECM in dermal biopsies
(A–D) Ultrastructural analysis of the elastic fibers in a skin biopsy of affected individual F1:IV-2 (C and D) and a control subject (A and B).
(E–H) Ultrastructural analysis of collagen fibrils in a skin biopsy of affected individual F1:IV-2 (G and H) and a control subject (E and F). Scale bar represents 2 μm (A, C, E, and G) and scale bar represents 500 nm (B, D, F, and H). The elastin core (dotted while line) is surrounded by a spare mantle of microfibrils in the control subject (red dotted line, white arrow). Note that microfibrils infiltrate into the periphery of the elastic fiber in a skin biopsy of affected individual F1:IV-2 (red dotted line, black triangle). Col, collagen; Ef, elastic fiber; Mf, microfibrils.