The discovery of high endothelial venules. A historical note

Background: Endothelial cells are a heterogeneous population. There are differences between the different species' endothelium, large and small vessels, and between endothelial cells derived from various microvascular endothelial beds. In this context, endothelial cells of high endothelial venu...

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Main Author: Domenico Ribatti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Translational Research in Anatomy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X24001031
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author Domenico Ribatti
author_facet Domenico Ribatti
author_sort Domenico Ribatti
collection DOAJ
description Background: Endothelial cells are a heterogeneous population. There are differences between the different species' endothelium, large and small vessels, and between endothelial cells derived from various microvascular endothelial beds. In this context, endothelial cells of high endothelial venules (HEVs) represent an extremely interesting and not-yet completely investigated cell population. Methods: A literature search in PubMed on the history of HEVs was conducted. The keywords used in the search criteria were “High endothelial venules,” “Immunity,” “B lymphocytes,” “T lymphocytes,” and “Lymph nodes.” The results were summarized in a short narrative historical review based on published papers on the role of HEVs in immunity, inflammation, and cancer. Results: HEVs are morphologically characterized by a plump, almost cuboidal appearance, a rounded nucleus, a thicker basement membrane, and a layer of mesenchymal cells outside the basement membrane. HEVs are specialized blood vessels mediating lymphocyte trafficking to lymph nodes and other secondary lymphoid organs. HEVs expand during inflammation in immune-stimulated lymph nodes and are profoundly remodeled in metastatic and tumor-draining lymph nodes. Conclusion: This article emphasizes the important role of HEVs in immunity, inflammation, and cancer. However, although many aspects of HEVs are still to be discovered, their therapeutic modulation already offers interesting results, especially for cancer treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-26e3c2fdb76f47a69f148723dffc63122025-01-24T04:45:15ZengElsevierTranslational Research in Anatomy2214-854X2025-03-0138100379The discovery of high endothelial venules. A historical noteDomenico Ribatti0Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, Università degli Studi di Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11, 70125, Bari, Italy.; Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, ItalyBackground: Endothelial cells are a heterogeneous population. There are differences between the different species' endothelium, large and small vessels, and between endothelial cells derived from various microvascular endothelial beds. In this context, endothelial cells of high endothelial venules (HEVs) represent an extremely interesting and not-yet completely investigated cell population. Methods: A literature search in PubMed on the history of HEVs was conducted. The keywords used in the search criteria were “High endothelial venules,” “Immunity,” “B lymphocytes,” “T lymphocytes,” and “Lymph nodes.” The results were summarized in a short narrative historical review based on published papers on the role of HEVs in immunity, inflammation, and cancer. Results: HEVs are morphologically characterized by a plump, almost cuboidal appearance, a rounded nucleus, a thicker basement membrane, and a layer of mesenchymal cells outside the basement membrane. HEVs are specialized blood vessels mediating lymphocyte trafficking to lymph nodes and other secondary lymphoid organs. HEVs expand during inflammation in immune-stimulated lymph nodes and are profoundly remodeled in metastatic and tumor-draining lymph nodes. Conclusion: This article emphasizes the important role of HEVs in immunity, inflammation, and cancer. However, although many aspects of HEVs are still to be discovered, their therapeutic modulation already offers interesting results, especially for cancer treatment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X24001031High endothelial venulesImmunityB lymphocytesT lymphocytesLymph nodes
spellingShingle Domenico Ribatti
The discovery of high endothelial venules. A historical note
Translational Research in Anatomy
High endothelial venules
Immunity
B lymphocytes
T lymphocytes
Lymph nodes
title The discovery of high endothelial venules. A historical note
title_full The discovery of high endothelial venules. A historical note
title_fullStr The discovery of high endothelial venules. A historical note
title_full_unstemmed The discovery of high endothelial venules. A historical note
title_short The discovery of high endothelial venules. A historical note
title_sort discovery of high endothelial venules a historical note
topic High endothelial venules
Immunity
B lymphocytes
T lymphocytes
Lymph nodes
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214854X24001031
work_keys_str_mv AT domenicoribatti thediscoveryofhighendothelialvenulesahistoricalnote
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