COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF D2-40 AND LYVE-1 IMMUNOSTAINING IN LYMPHATIC MALFORMATIONS

Abstract

Identification of lymphatic vessels innormal tissue and vascular malformations hasbeen considerably enhanced by the recentlydiscovered lymphatic endothelial markersD2-40 and LYVE-1. However, comparativeanalysis of these two antibodies in theevaluation of lymphatic malformations hasnot been widely reported. We evaluated twentylymphatic malformations of skin/subcutis/softtissue with immunostaining for D2-40 andLYVE-1. Ten high-power fields from eachsection were scored for total number ofimmunopositive vessels using identical fieldswith both markers. Vessels were grouped bydiameter (<225 μm and >225 μm), with eachvessel categorized according to the percentageof its lumen showing immunopositivity(<25, 26-75, or >75). Endothelial stainingintensity was graded low or high in each case.We found no significant difference betweentotal number of vessels stained with D2-40or LYVE-1 or between the 2 markers in termsof the percentage of luminal circumferencestained or intensity in vessels smaller than225 μm. LYVE-1 stained a higher percentageof luminal circumference of channels greaterthan 225 μm at both low and high intensities.Large channels stained much less andsometimes not at all with either antibody.D2-40 and LYVE-1 are both effective forhighlighting endothelium of lymphaticmalformations, staining similar percentagesof channels. LYVE-1 provides more luminalstaining in channels larger than 225 μm butis less specific also staining macrophages andadipocytes. Both markers are expressed lessstrongly or sometimes not at all in largechannels.