Lc. Masek et al., IMMUNO-HISTOCHEMICAL, LECTIN-HISTOCHEMICAL, AND ENZYME-HISTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN BONE-MARROW ENDOTHELIUM, Experimental hematology, 22(12), 1994, pp. 1203-1209
''Homing'' of hematopoietic progenitor cells to the bone marrow occurs
during the clinical practice of bone marrow transplantation. Its mech
anism is unknown, although adhesive interactions between hematopoietic
cells and sinusoidal endothelium in the bane marrow may be implicated
. Studies of human bone marrow endothelial cells have previously been
limited by the lack of markers for these cells. In this report, we des
cribe positive staining of bone marrow endothelial cells from human bo
ne marrow trephine biopsies with antibody to factor VIII-related antig
en (FVIIIR-Ag) (Dako, High Wycombe, UK), the plant lectin Ulex europae
us agglutinin-I (UEA-I), and two mouse monoclonal antibodies, BMA120 a
nd QBEND/10. In addition, alkaline phosphatase could be demonstrated i
n the majority of marrow endothelial cells using a novel enzyme histoc
hemical technique. These studies defined the marker profile of human m
arrow endothelium. The results of this study will facilitate the isola
tion and culture of human marrow endothelial cells for in vitro studie
s of their roles in hematopoietic stem cell homing.