What is fibronectin used for?

Fibronectin (FN) is a multifunctional adhesive glycoprotein that plays an important role in tissue repair, in regulating cell attachment and motility, and in embryogenesis.

What does fibronectin do to cells?

Fibronectin (FBN) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) component that, through binding integrin receptors of the cell surface, acts as a key player of the communication between the intra and the extracellular environment, thus controlling cell behavior.

What is fibronectin attached?

Fibronectin is a high-molecular weight (~500-~600 kDa) glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix that binds to membrane-spanning receptor proteins called integrins. Fibronectin also binds to other extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen, fibrin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (e.g. syndecans).

What does a positive fibronectin test mean?

Results. Results of the fetal fibronectin test are either positive or negative: Positive. A positive result means that fetal fibronectin is present in your cervical secretions. If you have a positive result between weeks 22 and 34, you’re at increased risk of premature birth within seven days.

What is fibronectin test?

Fetal fibronectin (fFN) is used to test pregnant women who are between 22 weeks and 35 weeks of pregnancy and are having symptoms of premature labor. The test helps predict the likelihood of premature delivery within the next 7-14 days.

How can soluble fibronectin influences blood clotting?

Fibronectin is covalently linked to fibrin during clot formation by coagulation factor XIII and has been suggested as a possible mediator of platelet adhesion to collagen. Fixed human platelets were found to adhere to fibrin.

How accurate is the fibronectin test?

Combination of fFN and cervical length does not seem to increase the predictive accuracy of both tests taken separately. A positive fFN testing increases the individual PTB probability from 7.5% to 66.1%, due to its high positive likelihood ratio of 24, whereas a negative test decreases it to 2.4%.

What do you do after a positive fetal fibronectin test?

If the fetal fibronectin test is positive, your health care provider may take steps to address premature birth — such as administering medication to enhance the baby’s lung maturity.