SELECTIVE D2-40 LYMPHATIC ENDOTHELIUM IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN DEVELOPING HUMAN FETAL SKIN APPENDAGES

Abstract

D2-40 is a novel monoclonal antibodythat recognizes a 40,000 Da O-linkedsialoglycoprotein podoplanin. Although its useis becoming more common, little work hasbeen done with human foetuses. We initiatedan evaluation of D2-40 antibody immunoreactivityin developing cutaneous adnexa ofhuman fetuses at various gestational ages.Starting from a retrospective cohort of 1,098human fetal autopsies we identified andselected a total of 48 fetuses ranging from the12th week gestational age to term appropriatefor this study. We demonstrated that the gemsof the hair follicles were D2-40 negative infetuses from the 12th to 15th week gestation,positive in fetuses between the 16th and 20thweek of gestation, negative in fetuses fromthe 21st week gestation to term. Normal adultcontrols were also negative. This is the firstreport to demonstrate intense D2-40 immunoreactivityin the gems of hair follicles ofdeveloping human skin.