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Isolation of Human Lymphatic Endothelial Cells by Multi-parameter Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting

Isolation of Human Lymphatic Endothelial Cells by Multi-parameter Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting

Published on: May 1, 2015

Functionally specialized junctions between endothelial cells of lymphatic vessels.

Peter Baluk¹, Jonas Fuxe, Hiroya Hashizume

¹Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine

|September 12, 2007

Summary

Novel button-like junctions in initial lymphatic vessels allow fluid entry. These unique endothelial cell junctions differ from zipper-like junctions in blood vessels, facilitating fluid and cell transport in lymphatic systems.

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Murine Dermal Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Isolation

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Published on: July 21, 2023

Area of Science:

Lymphatic biology
Endothelial cell junctions
Tissue fluid dynamics

Background:

Lymphatic vessels are crucial for tissue homeostasis, inflammation, and cancer.
Understanding endothelial cell junctions in initial lymphatics is key to lymphatic function.
Previous research has advanced lymphatic function knowledge but left entry mechanisms unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify and characterize novel cellular junctions in initial lymphatic vessels.
To elucidate the structural basis for fluid and cell entry into lymphatics.
To investigate the molecular composition and function of these unique junctions.

Main Methods:

Microscopic analysis of endothelial cell junctions in initial lymphatics of C57BL/6 mice.
Immunohistochemical staining for key junctional proteins like VE-cadherin, occludin, and claudin-5.
Comparison of junctional structures between initial lymphatics, collecting lymphatics, and blood vessels.

Main Results:

Discovery of discontinuous, button-like junctions (buttons) at the tips of oak leaf-shaped endothelial cells in initial lymphatics.
These buttons, unlike continuous zipper-like junctions (zippers) in other vessels, allow for fluid entry.
Both buttons and zippers share molecular components including VE-cadherin and tight junction proteins; VE-cadherin is essential for integrity.

Conclusions:

Button-like junctions are specialized structures facilitating fluid entry throughout initial lymphatics.
These junctions open and close dynamically without compromising overall vessel integrity.
Leukocyte entry primarily occurs in the proximal half of initial lymphatics, distinct from fluid entry sites.