title: The human renal lymphatics under normal and pathological conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The renal lymphatics have not been fully documented in humans. The aim of this study was to clarify the morphology of the human renal lymphatic system under normal and pathological conditions by immunohistochemistry using anti-D2-40 antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal and pathological renal tissues obtained at autopsy as well as nephrectomy specimens with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were used. Thin sections were immunostained with antibodies against D2-40 and CD31. In normal kidney, D2-40+ lymphatics were abundant in the interstitium around the interlobar and arcuate arteries/veins but sporadic in those around the glomeruli or between the tubules in the cortex. A few lymphatics contained erythrocytes in their lumina. Lymphatics were seldom present in the medulla. In RCC cases, lymphatics were evident at the tumour margin, whereas CD31+ capillaries were abundant throughout the tumour and lymphatics were increased in the fibrous interstitium around the tumour. Lymphatic invasion by RCC cells was also detectable. D2-40+ lymphatics were evident in other pathological conditions and end-stage kidney had a denser lymphatic distribution than normal kidney.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymphatics are abundant around the arteries/veins and are also present in the renal cortex and medulla. D2-40 immunostaining is helpful for investigating the pathophysiological role of renal lymphatics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, and Saiseikai Kanagawaken Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. yukio@med.toho-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akasaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiguchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akishima-Fukasawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura-Matsumoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; C500987:monoclonal antibody D2-40