Vascular endothelial cadherin is expressed by perineurial cells of peripheral nerve.
OBJECTIVE
To study the distribution of vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin in peripheral nerves.


RESULTS
Using two monoclonal antibodies that detect VE-cadherin (TEA1.31 and 7B4) an immunohistochemical study of VE-cadherin expression in five common peroneal nerve biopsies and five skin specimens containing small peripheal nerves was performed. VE-cadherin was consistently expressed by the perineurium of nerves but not by other nerve elements such as Schwann cells or axons.


CONCLUSIONS
This report indicates that VE-cadherin is not. as was previously thought, a specific marker of endothelial cells and further defines the phenotype of the perineurial cell. The established role of VE-cadherin in controlling the permeability of vascular endothelium suggests that this molecule may have a similar role in the perineurium. VE-cadherin may therefore be important in the maintenance of the blood-nerve barrier, the peripheral nerve equivalent of the blood-brain barrier.
Smith
M E
ME
Department of Histopathology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
Jones
T A
TA
Hilton
D
D
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000378:metabolism*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099152:Cadherin 5
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D018396:Mucin-1; D000099152:Cadherin 5