Expression of the hyaluronan receptor LYVE‐1 is not restricted to the lymphatic vasculature; LYVE‐1 is also expressed on embryonic blood vessels

Abstract

Expression of the hyaluronan receptor LYVE-1 is one of few available criteria used to discriminate lymphatic vessels from blood vessels. Until now, endothelial LYVE-1 expression was reported to be restricted to lymphatic vessels and to lymph node, liver, and spleen sinuses. Here, we provide the first evidence that LYVE-1 is expressed on blood vessels of the yolk sac during mouse embryogenesis. LYVE-1 is ubiquitously expressed in the yolk sac capillary plexus at E9.5, then becomes progressively down-regulated on arterial endothelium during vascular remodelling. LYVE-1 is also expressed on intra-embryonic arterial and venous endothelium at early embryonic stages and on endothelial cells of the lung and endocardium throughout embryogenesis. These findings have important implications for the use of LYVE-1 as a specific marker of the lymphatic vasculature during embryogenesis and neo-lymphangiogenesis. Our data are also the first demonstration, to our knowledge, that the mouse yolk sac is devoid of lymphatic vessels.

Cellular phenotypes and spatio‐temporal patterns of lymphatic vessel development in embryonic mouse hearts

“…Accumulated research evidence indicates that lymphatic vessels do not possess a specific marker, i.e., Lyve-1 antigen (Lymphatic endothelial cell antigen-1) as well as Prox-1 antigen (Prosperorelated homeobox-1 gene) have been questioned as being specific for endothelial cells of lymphatic vessels. Based on our observations and on the literature, Lyve-1 is present in endocardial endothelial cells (EEC) (Juszy nski et al, 2008;Gordon et al, 2008), some venules of the embryonic body (Gordon et al, 2008), endothelial sinusoids of embryonic liver (Mouta Carreira et al, 2001;Juszynski et al, 2008), human spleen and placental syncytiotrophoblast (Banerji et al, 1999;Jackson et al, 2001;Prevo et al, 2001). Prox-1, considered to be a lymphatic marker, is also expressed in a subpopulation of the EECs, in the cells that line cardiac valves, and in immature cardiac myocytes (Wilting et al, 2007;Juszy nski et al, 2008;Karunamuni et al, 2010).…”

“…6). Banerji et al, 1999;Prevo et al, 2001;Mouta Carreira et al, 2001;Jackson, 2004;Schledzewski et al, 2006;Cho et al, 2007;Gordon et al, 2008;Juszy nski et al, 2008;Karunamuni et al, 2010 Fig. 1.…”

LYVE1 and PROX1 in the reconstruction of hepatic sinusoids after partial hepatectomy in mice

“…Seven days after surgery, LYVE1 was present in the central vein. During the development of the hepatic vascular system, LYVE1 was prominent in most of the vascular endothelial cells in liver tissues of mice at 1 day after birth; LYVE1 was found only in some of the hepatic sinusoids, but was absent from vascular endothelial cells [9,22]. Together with our findings, these data suggest that LYVE1 levels in the liver and its distribution changes during development and in response to injury.…”

CHD4-regulated plasmin activation impacts lymphovenous hemostasis and hepatic vascular integrity

“…Similar liver pathology was observed in E14.5 Chd4 fl/fl VEcadherin-Cre + embryos prior to lethality at E16.5 (Supplemental Figure 5). The Lyve1-Cre recombinase we employed in this study was originally developed to excise target genes from lymphatic endothelium (14), but LYVE1 is also expressed on some blood vessel endothelial cells, including hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (14,(26)(27)(28). We confirmed Lyve1-Cre recombinase activity in E14.5 hepatic vessels with a Cre reporter (Supplemental Figure 6B).…”