Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Determining Bile Duct Density in the Mouse Liver
Published on: April 30, 2019
Immunohistochemical detection of arteriolar hyperplasia in canine liver biopsy samples using the claudin-5 antibody
Csaba Jakab1, Miklós Rusvai, Péter Gálfi
1Department of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, István u. 2 H-1078 Budapest, Hungary. Jakab.Csaba@aotk.szie.hu
Insights
Claudin-5, a tight junction protein, was found to mark proliferating hepatic arterioles in dogs with portal vein hypoperfusion. This marker aids in detecting arteriolar hyperplasia in liver biopsy samples.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary pathology
- Molecular biology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Claudins are essential tight junction proteins regulating paracellular permeability.
- Claudin-5 is expressed in the endothelium of normal canine liver vasculature.
- Portal vein hypoperfusion is a condition affecting liver hemodynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of claudin-5 as a marker for hepatic arteriolar proliferation.
- To assess claudin-5 expression in canine liver samples with portal vein hypoperfusion.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis using a humanized anti-claudin-5 antibody.
- Evaluation of liver biopsy samples from 25 dogs with portal vein hypoperfusion.
- Quantification of hepatic arterioles in portal areas (PAs).
Main Results:
- Strong membranous claudin-5 cross-reactivity was observed in normal canine liver vasculature.
- An increased number of arterioles was detected in portal areas of dogs with portal vein hypoperfusion.
- The number of hyperplastic hepatic arterioles correlated with the size of the portal areas.
Conclusions:
- Claudin-5 serves as a valuable marker for detecting hepatic arteriolar proliferation.
- This marker can enhance the identification of arteriolar hyperplasia in canine liver samples.
- Claudin-5 may aid in diagnosing and understanding conditions associated with portal vein hypoperfusion.
Abstract:
Claudins are key tight junctional proteins between adjacent epithelial, mesothelial or endothelial cells, which are responsible for the permeability of the paracellular space. This paper describes that the endothelial cells of normal hepatic arterioles, portal venules and portal lymphatics as well as the endothelium of sinusoids from dogs show strong membranous claudin-5 cross-reactivity. In 25 liver biopsy samples taken from dogs with portal vein hypoperfusion, an increased number of arterioles was detected in the portal areas (PAs) by the use of humanised anti-claudin-5 antibody. The increased number of hyperplastic hepatic arterioles per PA was 5-6, 8-12 and 15-20 in the case of small, medium-sized and large PAs, respectively. It is suggested that the claudin-5 marker can improve the detection of hepatic arteriolar proliferation in the PAs of liver samples.
