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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
07:36
Isolation of Human Lymphatic Endothelial Cells by Multi-parameter Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting
Published on: May 1, 2015
The human renal lymphatics under normal and pathological conditions
Y Ishikawa1, Y Akasaka, H Kiguchi
1Department of Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, and Saiseikai Kanagawaken Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. yukio@med.toho-u.ac.jp
Histopathology
|August 22, 2006
Summary
This study clarifies human renal lymphatic morphology using D2-40 immunohistochemistry. Renal lymphatics are abundant around blood vessels and present in the cortex and medulla, aiding in understanding kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Vascular Biology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- The detailed morphology of human renal lymphatic vessels remains incompletely understood.
- Investigating renal lymphatics is crucial for understanding kidney physiology and pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the morphology of the human renal lymphatic system in both normal and pathological states.
- To utilize immunohistochemistry with anti-D2-40 antibody for detailed lymphatic mapping.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of normal and pathological human renal tissues (autopsy and nephrectomy specimens).
- Immunohistochemical staining using anti-D2-40 and anti-CD31 antibodies.
- Microscopic examination to identify and quantify lymphatic vessels.
Main Results:
- Normal kidneys exhibit abundant D2-40+ lymphatics around interlobar/arcuate vessels, with sporadic presence near glomeruli and tubules, and rare occurrence in the medulla.
- In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), lymphatics are prominent at the tumor margin and increased in the surrounding interstitium, with detectable lymphatic invasion.
- Pathological conditions and end-stage kidneys show denser lymphatic distribution compared to normal kidneys.
Conclusions:
- Renal lymphatics are widely distributed around major renal vessels and are present within the cortex and medulla.
- D2-40 immunostaining is an effective tool for studying the role of renal lymphatics in disease pathophysiology.
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