Lymphatic marker podoplanin/D2-40 in human advanced cirrhotic liver- Re-evaluations of microlymphatic abnormalities

BMC Gastroenterology

Research Article

Kazunori Yoshimura¹  Minoru Tanabe²  Shigeyuki Kawachi²  Yuko Kitagawa²  Fumihiko Kaneko³  Hiroaki Yokomori³  Masaya Oda⁴ 

[1] Department of Rehabilitation, Nihon Institute of Medical Science, Saitama, Japan;Department of Surgery, Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan;Division of Gastroenterology of Internal Medicine, Kitasato Medical Center Hospital, Kitasato University, Saitama, Japan;Organized Center of Clinical Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan;

关键词: Lymphatic Vessel;    Cirrhotic Liver;    Portal Tract;    Lymphatic Endothelial Cell;    Lymph Vessel Density;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-230X-10-131

 received in 2010-07-30, accepted in 2010-11-08,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundFrom the morphological appearance, it was impossible to distinguish terminal portal venules from small lymphatic vessels in the portal tract even using histochemical microscopic techniques. Recently, D2-40 was found to be expressed at a high level in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). This study was undertaken to elucidate hepatic lymphatic vessels during progression of cirrhosis by examining the expression of D2-40 in LECs.MethodsSurgical wedge biopsy specimens were obtained from non-cirrhotic portions of human livers (normal control) and from cirrhotic livers (LC) (Child A-LC and Child C-LC). Immunohistochemical (IHC), Western blot, and immunoelectron microscopic studies were conducted using D2-40 as markers for lymphatic vessels, as well as CD34 for capillary blood vessels.ResultsImunostaining of D2-40 produced a strong reaction in lymphatic vessels only, especially in Child C-LC. It was possible to distinguish the portal venules from the small lymphatic vessels using D-40. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed strong D2-40 expression along the luminal and abluminal portions of the cell membrane of LECs in Child C-LC tissue.ConclusionIt is possible to distinguish portal venules from small lymphatic vessels using D2-40 as marker. D2-40- labeling in lymphatic capillary endothelial cells is related to the degree of fibrosis in cirrhotic liver.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Yokomori et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010