Nestin as a Marker Beyond Angiogenesis-Expression Pattern in Haemangiomas and Lymphangiomas

Area of Science:

• Vascular Biology
• Cell Biology
• Histopathology

Background:

• Nestin, an intermediate filament protein, is found in neural and mesenchymal stem cells.
• It's also expressed in endothelial cells during wound healing and tumorigenesis, marking proliferative endothelium.
• Its role in lymphatic endothelium remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate nestin expression in haemangiomas and lymphangiomas.
• To determine nestin's potential as a vascular marker.
• To assess if nestin is restricted to proliferating endothelial cells or also present in non-proliferative blood vessels.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze nestin expression in human haemangiomas and lymphangiomas.
• Markers CD31 and D2-40 were used to identify blood and lymphatic endothelium, respectively.
• Ki-67 staining assessed endothelial cell proliferation.

Main Results:

• Haemangiomas showed homogeneous nestin expression in CD31-positive endothelium, while being D2-40 negative.
• Lymphangiomas were D2-40 and CD31 positive but lacked nestin expression.
• Most endothelial cells in capillary haemangiomas were Ki-67 negative, indicating quiescence.

Conclusions:

• Differential nestin expression distinguishes haemangiomas (blood vessels) from lymphangiomas (lymphatic vessels).
• Nestin appears specific to blood vessel endothelium.
• Nestin can serve as a marker to differentiate between blood and lymphatic vessels.