Podoplanin is a 38 kDa membrane glycoprotein specifically expressed in LECs but not BECs. It is also highly expressed in type I alveolar cells, glomerular epithelial cells, osteoblasts, and epithelial cells of the thymus. The biological function of podoplanin is currently unknown. As heavily O-glycosylated mucoproteins were recently identified as counter receptors for selectins that mediate adhesion of inflammatory cells, it is possible that podoplanin plays a similar role in lymphatic endothelia.

Responsible for this project:

Dr. Dontscho Kerjaschki

Clinical Institute of Pathology

Medical University of Vienna

Währinger Gürtel 18-20

1090 Vienna, Austria

Phone: +43 1 40400 5176

Fax: +43 1 40400 5193

E-mail: dontscho.kerjaschki(at)meduniwien.ac.at

Homepage: www.akh-wien.ac.at/klinpath/

Selected recent publications:

1. Kerjaschki D, Regele HM, Moosberger I, Nagy-Bojarski K, Watschinger B, Soleiman A, Birner P, Krieger S, Hovorka A, Silberhumer G, Laakkonen P, Petrova T, Langer B, Raab I. Lymphatic neoangiogenesis in human kidney transplants is associated with immunologically active lymphocytic infiltrates. J Am Soc Nephrol 15:603-612, 2004.
    

2. Matsui K, Nagy-Bojarsky K, Laakkonen P, Krieger S, Mechtler K, Uchida S, Geleff S, Kang DH, Johnson RJ, Kerjaschki D. Lymphatic microvessels in the rat remnant kidney model of renal fibrosis: aminopeptidase p and podoplanin are discriminatory markers for endothelial cells of blood and lymphatic vessels. J Am Soc Nephrol 14:1981-1989, 2003.
    

3. Schoppmann SF, Birner P, Stockl J, Kalt R, Ullrich R, Caucig C, Kriehuber E, Nagy K, Alitalo K, Kerjaschki D. Tumor-associated macrophages express lymphatic endothelial growth factors and are related to peritumoral lymphangiogenesis. Am J Pathol 161:947-956, 2002.
    

4. Petrova TV, Makinen T, Makela TP, Saarela J, Virtanen I, Ferrell RE, Finegold DN, Kerjaschki D, Yla-Herttuala S, Alitalo K. Lymphatic endothelial reprogramming of vascular endothelial cells by the Prox-1 homeobox transcription factor. EMBO J 21:4593-4599, 2002.
    

5. Saaristo A, Veikkola T, Enholm B, Hytonen M, Arola J, Pajusola K, Turunen P, Jeltsch M, Karkkainen MJ, Kerjaschki D, Bueler H, Yla-Herttuala S, Alitalo K. Adenoviral VEGF-C overexpression induces blood vessel enlargement, tortuosity, and leakiness but no sprouting angiogenesis in the skin or mucous membranes. FASEB J 16:1041-1049, 2002.
    

6. Kriehuber E, Breiteneder-Geleff S, Groeger M, Soleiman A, Schoppmann SF, Stingl G, Kerjaschki D, Maurer D. Isolation and characterization of dermal lymphatic and blood endothelial cells reveal stable and functionally specialized cell lineages. J Exp Med 194:797-808, 2001.
    

7. Makinen T, Veikkola T, Mustjoki S, Karpanen T, Catimel B, Nice EC, Wise L, Mercer A, Kowalski H, Kerjaschki D, Stacker SA, Achen MG, Alitalo K. Isolated lymphatic endothelial cells transduce growth, survival and migratory signals via the VEGF-C/D receptor VEGFR-3. EMBO J 20:4762-4773, 2001.
    

8. Kang DH, Joly AH, Oh SW, Hugo C, Kerjaschki D, Gordon KL, Mazzali M, Jefferson JA, Hughes J, Madsen KM, Schreiner GF, Johnson RJ. Impaired angiogenesis in the remnant kidney model: I. Potential role of vascular endothelial growth factor and thrombospondin-1. J Am Soc Nephrol 12:1434-1447, 2001.
    

9. Kim YG, Suga SI, Kang DH, Jefferson JA, Mazzali M, Gordon KL, Matsui K, Breiteneder-Geleff S, Shankland SJ, Hughes J, Kerjaschki D, Schreiner GF, Johnson RJ. Vascular endothelial growth factor accelerates renal recovery in experimental thrombotic microangiopathy. Kidney Int 58:2390-2399, 2000.