The human renal lymphatics under normal and pathological conditions

Abstract

Aims: The renal lymphatics have not been fully documented in humans. The aim of this study was to clarify the morphology of the human renal lymphatic system under normal and pathological conditions by immunohistochemistry using anti-D2-40 antibody. Methods and results: Normal and pathological renal tissues obtained at autopsy as well as nephrectomy specimens with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were used. Thin sections were immunostained with antibodies against D2-40 and CD31. In normal kidney, D2-40+ lymphatics were abundant in the interstitium around the interlobar and arcuate arteries ⁄ veins but sporadic in those around the glomeruli or between the tubules in the cortex. A few lymphatics contained erythrocytes in their lumina. Lymphatics were seldom present in the medulla. In RCC cases, lymphatics were evident at the tumour margin, whereas CD31+ capillaries were abundant throughout the tumour and lymphatics were increased in the fibrous interstitium around the tumour. Lymphatic invasion by RCC cells was also detectable. D2-40+ lymphatics were evident in other pathological conditions and end-stage kidney had a denser lymphatic distribution than normal kidney. Conclusions: Lymphatics are abundant around the arteries ⁄ veins and are also present in the renal cortex and medulla. D2-40 immunostaining is helpful for investigating the pathophysiological role of renal lymphatics.

Podoplanin is a useful diagnostic marker for epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver

“…This result might give insight into the lymphangiogenesis during normal liver development. [14][15][16] We also detected podoplanin in nerve fascicles, mesothelium covering the liver surface, and stromal cells around the intrahepatic large bile ducts but not in biliary epithelial cells. Schacht et al, 2 detected podoplanin in biliary epithelial cells of normal liver using tissue microarrays.…”

Lymphatic vessels around the uterus: D2-40 (podoplandin) immunohistochemistry using elderly cadavers

“…Thus, application of sentinel node biopsy for carcinomas of the uterus [11,12] appeared to precede descriptions of normal adult anatomy of the lymphatic drainage routes. Likewise, to our knowledge, no or few studies have demonstrated the LVs around the normal uterus using D2-40 immunohistochemistry, in contrast to the extensive accumulation of knowledge of D2-40-positive LVs in other normal viscera (e.g., oesophagus [34], prostate [6], kidney [9] and others [7]). Rather than LVs around the uterus, endometrial LVs have been a major focus of interest for researchers in relation to the sexual cycle [19,21,28].…”

Lymphovenöse Shunts und Thromboide bei Harnstauungsniere

“…An der Drainage der Proteinextravasate hat offensichtlich das lymphangische System der Niere wesentlichen Anteil, wie dieser Fall besonders eindrucksvoll zeigt: THP-Proteinpräzipitate finden sich hier in zahlreichen ausgeweiteten Lymphspalten des Nierenparenchyms, vorwiegend in der Umgebung und der Wand der interlobären Venenäste, die lichtmikroskopisch besonders unter pathomorphologischen Bedingungen zur Darstellung kommen [7]. Anscheinend wird das THP-Protein primär aus dem Interstitium in das lymphangische System und über präformier-te lymphovenöse Anastomosen [7] in den venösen Schenkel des renalen Blutkreislaufs drainiert.…”

“…Anscheinend wird das THP-Protein primär aus dem Interstitium in das lymphangische System und über präformier-te lymphovenöse Anastomosen [7] in den venösen Schenkel des renalen Blutkreislaufs drainiert. Wie die feinstrukturellen Befunde dieses Falls zeigen, entstehen offenbar im Kontaktbereich dieser …”