Lymphatic marker podoplanin/D2-40 in human advanced cirrhotic liver--re-evaluations of microlymphatic abnormalities.
BACKGROUND
From 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.


METHODS
Surgical 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.


RESULTS
Imunostaining 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.


CONCLUSIONS
It 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.
Division of Gastroenterology of Internal Medicine, Kitasato Medical Center Hospital, Kitasato University, Saitama, Japan. yokomori@insti.kitasato-u.ac.jp
Hiroaki
H
Yokomori
Masaya
M
Oda
Fumihiko
F
Kaneko
Shigeyuki
S
Kawachi
Minoru
M
Tanabe
Kazunori
K
Yoshimura
Yuko
Y
Kitagawa
Toshifumi
T
Hibi
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018450:Disease Progression; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D044148:Lymphatic Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008875:Middle Aged; D000098853:Podoplanin
D015415:Biomarkers; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C117468:PDPN protein, human; D000098853:Podoplanin