Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
In Situ Detection of Autoreactive CD4 T Cells in Brain and Heart Using Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Dextramers
Published on: August 1, 2014
[Immunohistochemical identification of lymph vessels with D2-40 in diagnostic pathology]
1Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen. enkaiser@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Insights
The D2-40 antibody reliably identifies lymphatic endothelial cells. While it stains various non-endothelial cells and tumors, it remains the top choice for lymphatic endothelial cell identification.
Area of Science:
- Immunohistochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Context:
- D2-40 is a monoclonal antibody commonly used to identify human lymphatic endothelial cells.
- Limited information exists regarding the cross-reactivity of D2-40 with non-endothelial cell types.
- Understanding D2-40's reactivity is crucial for accurate diagnosis in various tissues and neoplasms.
Purpose:
- To investigate the staining patterns of the D2-40 antibody in a wide range of normal, reactive, and neoplastic tissues.
- To determine the extent of D2-40 reactivity beyond lymphatic endothelial cells.
Summary:
- D2-40 effectively stains normal, reactive, and neoplastic lymphatic endothelial cells, including lymphangiomas and Stewart-Treves syndrome.
- Cross-reactivity was observed in mesothelial cells, follicular dendritic reticulum cells, Cajal cells, some epithelial cells, myoepithelial cells, basal cells, and various mesenchymal cells.
- Reactive tumors included myofibroblastic tumors, GIST, mesothelioma, adenoid tumors, and germ cell tumors, although D2-40 is still considered the best antibody for lymphatic endothelial cells.
Impact:
- This study clarifies the specificity and potential cross-reactivity of D2-40, aiding pathologists in interpreting immunohistochemical results.
- Provides valuable data for the differential diagnosis of tumors where D2-40 staining might be present in non-lymphatic components.
- Reinforces D2-40's utility as a primary marker for lymphatic endothelial cells despite its broader reactivity profile.
Abstract:
D2-40 is an antibody that reliably detects human lymphatic endothelial cells. Because little is known about the extent to which other cells are stained, we have investigated this question in various tissues. Normal, reactive and neoplastic lymphatics (including lymphangiomas and Stewart-Treves syndrome) were stained by D2-40. Published findings indicate that some angiosarcomas and Kaposi are positive. Staining was also found in the following non-endothelial cells: mesothelial cells, follicular dendritic reticulum cells, Cajal cells, a few epithelial cells in the dermis, myoepithelial cells (e. g. breast), and basal cells (e. g. prostata), various mesenchymal cells. The following tumours were reactive: myofibroblastic tumours, gastrointestinal stromal tumour, mesothelioma, adenomatoid tumour, traumatic neuroma, seminoma, seminoma in situ and other testicular tumours, pleomorphic adenoma (one of two tumours positive), and follicular dendritic reticulum cell sarcoma. Despite this relatively broad spectrum of reactivity, we consider D2-40 to be the best commercially available antibody for the delineation of normal, reactive and neoplastic lymphatic endothelial cells.
