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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

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

Novel role for ALCAM in lymphatic network formation and function.

Maria Iolyeva¹, Sinem Karaman, Ann-Helen Willrodt

¹Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli Str. 10, HCI H413, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

|November 22, 2012

Summary

Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) is crucial for lymphatic vessel stability and function. This study reveals ALCAM

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Murine Dermal Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Isolation

Murine Dermal Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Isolation

Published on: July 21, 2023

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Last Updated: May 16, 2026

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

Murine Dermal Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Isolation

Murine Dermal Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Isolation

Published on: July 21, 2023

Area of Science:

Vascular Biology
Immunology
Cell Biology

Background:

Adhesion molecules are vital for vascular stability, permeability, and leukocyte trafficking.
Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) was identified as an inflammation-induced gene in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of ALCAM in lymphatic endothelial cells and lymphatic vessel (LV) network organization and function.
To determine ALCAM's involvement in dendritic cell (DC) migration.

Main Methods:

Microarray analyses to identify inflammation-induced genes in LECs.
In vitro experiments assessing ALCAM's function in LEC adhesion, migration, and tube formation.
In vivo studies using ALCAM-deficient mice to evaluate LV network formation and DC migration.

Main Results:

ALCAM is expressed at the protein level in human and murine lymphatic and blood vascular endothelial cells.
ALCAM mediates adhesive interactions, migration, and tube formation in LECs, supporting LV stability and lymphangiogenesis.
ALCAM facilitates dendritic cell adhesion to lymphatic endothelium and DC migration to lymph nodes.
ALCAM-deficient mice exhibit reduced LEC numbers and defective LV network formation, along with impaired DC migration.

Conclusions:

ALCAM plays a novel and significant role in stabilizing LEC-LEC interactions.
ALCAM is essential for the organization and function of the lymphatic vessel network.
ALCAM is critical for efficient dendritic cell trafficking within the lymphatic system.