Abstract
The interaction mechanisms of adhesion molecules between vascular endothelial cells and lymphocytes are well recognized in the view of immune responses. Only few reports, however, exist regarding pivotal roles of adhesion molecules in the movement of lymphocytes in the lymphatic system. In this study, we investigated interaction mechanisms of adhesion molecules between rat lymphatic endothelial cells and lymphocytes collected from rat lymph nodes. We have already established the cell line of lymphatic endothelial cells isolated from rat thoracic duct (Microcirculation, 10: 127-131, 2003). We used the cultured lymphatic endothelial cells and rat lymph nodes-derived lymphocytes labeled with 5-(and 6-) carboxyfluoresence in diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) for visualization. After the co-incubation with the lymphatic endothelial cells and lymphocytes for 30 min at 37°C, nonadherent-lymphocytes were removed by washing with PBS three times. The binding ability of the labeled-lymphocytes was assessed by microscopic examination. A selective adhesion between the no-treated lymphatic endothelial cells and the lymphocytes was clearly observed in the control. In addition, pre-treatment the lymphatic endothelial cells with anti E-selectin antibody (30μg/ml) for 1 hr at 37°C caused a significant decrease of numbers of the lymphocytes adhered selectively with the cultured lymphatic endothelial cells. This finding suggests that E-selectin may play an important role in the adhesive mechanisms between lymphatic endothelial cells and lymphocytes. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S93 (2004)]
