title: Desmoplakin as a specific marker of lymphatic vessels.
abstract: The usefulness of immunostaining with anti-desmoplakin antibody for light microscopic identification of lymphatic vessels was examined in cryostat sections of the human tongue. The results were compared with laminin, 5'-nucleotidase (5'-Nase), and factor VIII staining. Immunoelectron microscopic observation was also performed to confirm that the vessels reacting with anti-desmoplakin were lymphatic vessels. Under the immunoelectron microscopic, the vessels reacting with anti-desmoplakin showed ultrastructural features characteristic of lymphatic vessels: thin endothelial walls, no or incomplete basal lamina, open junctions, and overlapping endothelium. In general, lymphatic vessels identified by anti-desmoplakin reacted strongly with 5'-Nase, but showed weak or no reactivity with anti-laminin and anti-factor VIII. Blood vessels showed no reactivity with anti-desmoplakin, but reacted strongly with anti-laminin and anti-factor VIII. However, some blood and lymphatic vessels showed intermediate reactivity with anti-laminin, anti-factor VIII, and 5'-Nase. It was difficult to identify these as blood or lymphatic vessels only by the reactivity differences. The results indicate that anti-desmoplakin antibody specifically distinguishes lymphatic vessels and is useful for studying the fine distribution of lymphatic vessels under light microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Functional Science, Oral Pathobiological Science, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, N13 W7, Sapporo, 060-8586, Japan. nori_ebt@den.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ebata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nodasaka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaoka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Totsuka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008208:Lymphatic System
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; C495294:DSP protein, human; D051180:Desmoplakins