Summary
The structure of the basement membrane of the high endothelium of reactive human lymph nodes was investigated by techniques selective for carbohydrates (periodic acid-Schiff; critical electrolyte concentration staining with Alcian Blue; lectin histochemistry), specific proteins (immunohistochemistry for laminin and fibronectin) and by conventional techniques of light and transmission electron microscopy. Adjacent small lymphocytes were assigned to B and T cell subsets by use of monoclonal antibodies and they were analysed for non-specific esterase,β-glucuronidase,β-N-acetylglucaminidase and proteolytic activities. The basement membranes were shown to be distinctive and to contain three layers, of differing laminin, glycosaminoglycan and glycoprotein oligosaccharide content. Certain lymphocytes (probably T) contained enzymes potentially able to degrade some components of these basement membranes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ANDERSON, A. O. & ANDERSON, N. D. (1975) Studies on the structure and permeability of the microvasculature in normal rat lymph nodes.Am. J. Pathol. 80, 387–418.
ANDREWS, P., FORD, W. L. & STODDART, R. W. (1979) Metabolic studies of high-walled endothelium of postcapillary venules in rat lymph nodes. InBlood Cells and Vessel Walls: Functional Interactions. Ciba Foundation Symposium No. 71 (new series), 211–30. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica.
COURTICE, F. C., SIMMOND, W. J. & STEINBECK, A. W. (1951) Some investigations of lymph from a thoracic duct fistula in man.Aust. J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci. 29, 201–10.
CROCKER, J. (1981). The enzyme histochemistry of lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells of the human palatine tonsil: a basis for the study of lymphomas.J. Pathol. 134, 81–95.
FOSSUM, S., SMITH, M. E. & FORD, W. L. (1983) The migration of lymphocytes across specialised vascular endothelium VII. The migration of T and B lymphocytes from the blood of the athymic, nude rat.Scand. J. Immunol. 17, 539–49.
FREEMONT, A. J. & DAVIES, J. S. (1982) A comparison of sixα-naphthyl esters for the detection of acid esterase activity in T lymphocytes and other cells.Med. Lab. Sci. 39, 405–7.
FREEMONT, A. J. & JONES, C. J. P. (1983) Light microscopic histochemical and ultrastructural studies of human lymph node paracortical venules.J. Anat. 136, 349–62.
FREEMONT, A. J., MATTHEWS, S., STODDART, R. W. & JONES, C. J. P. (1985) The distribution of cells of the monocytic-lineage in reactive lymph nodes and non-Hodgkin lymphomata. Characterization using protein histochemistry, lectin binding and monoclonal antibodies.J. Pathol. 146, 139–50.
GOWANS, J. L. & KNIGHT, E. J. (1964) The route of recirculation of lymphocytes in the rat.Proc. Roy. Soc. Med. B. 159, 257–82.
JONES, C. J. P. & JAYSON, M. I. V. (1984) Chloroquine, its effects on leucocyte auto- and heterophagocytosis.Ann. Rheum. Dis. 43, 205–12.
KNOWLES, D. M., HOFFMAN, H. T., FERRARINI, M. & KUNKEL, H. G. (1978) Histochemical demonstration of acid-naphthyl acid esterase (ANAE) activity in human lymphocytes: usefulness as a T cell marker.Cellular Immunol. 35, 112–23.
PEARSE, A. G. E. (1968)Histochemistry: Theoretical and Applied. 3rd Edition. Edinburgh, London: Churchill Livingstone.
SAVION, N., VLODAVSKY, I. & FUKS, Z. (1984) Interaction of T lymphocytes and macrophages with cultured vascular endothelial cells: attachment, invasion, and subsequent degradation of the subendothelial extracellular matrix.J. Cell Physiol. 118, 169–78.
SCHULZE, W. (1925) Untersuchungen uber die Capillaren und postcapillaren Venen lymphatischen Organe.Zeit. G. Anat. Ent. 76, 421–6.
SCOTT, J. E. & DORLING, J. (1965) Differential staining of acid glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) by Alcian Blue in salt solutions.Histochemie 5, 221–33.
SHIELDS, J. M., HASTON, W. & WILKINSON, P. C. (1984) Invasion of collagen gels by mouse lymphoid cells.Immunology 51, 259–68.
SMITH, C. & HENON, B. K. (1959) Histological and histochemical study of high endothelium of postcapillary veins of the lymph node.Anat. Rec. 135, 207–13.
STEVEN, F. S., GRIFFIN, M. M. & AL-AHMAD, R. K. (1985) The design of fluorescent probes which bind to the active centre of guanidinobenzoatase. Application to the location of cells possessing this enzyme.Eur. J. Biochem. 149, 35–40.
STEVEN, F. S., GRIFFIN, M. M., WONG, T. L. H. & ITZHAKI, S. (1986) Evidence for inhibitors of the cell surface protease guanidinobenzoatase.J. Enz. Inhib. in press.
WENK, E. J., ORLIC, D., REITH, E. J. & RHODEN, J. A. G. (1974) The ultrastructure of mouse lymph node venules and the passage of lymphocytes across their walls.J. Ultrastruct. Res. 47, 214–41.
YOFFEY, J. M. (1950) The mammalian lymphocyte.Biol. Rev. 25, 314–43.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Freemont, A.J., Stoddart, R.W., Steven, F. et al. The structure of the basement membrane of human lymph node high endothelial venules: An ultrastructural, histochemical and immunocytochemical study. Histochem J 18, 421–428 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01675334
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01675334