CHARACTERIZATION OF OVINE LYMPHATIC ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH LYMPHOCYTES

The interaction of blood-borne lymphocytes with blood vascular endothe lial cells is a fundamental component of lymphocyte circulation. The r ole of lymphatic endothelial cells is less certain. These studies desc ribe the isolation, characterization and lymphocyte binding capacity o f efferent lymphatic endothelial cells from ovine mesenteric lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic endothelial cells had anti-thrombin 3, von Willebr and Factor and MHC I on their surface. The cells also actively metabol ized acetylated low density lipoprotein. The morphological appearance was indistinguishable from blood vascular endothelium but quite differ ent from cultured smooth muscle cells. Lymphocyte binding to lymphatic endothelial cells was not significantly different from binding to car otid artery or jugular vein endothelial cells. The degree of binding i n all cases could be enhanced by incubating endothelial cells in mediu m containing rh TNF-alpha (recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alp ha).