Endothelial and virgultar cell formations in the mammalian lymph node sinus: endothelial differentiation morphotypes characterized by a special kind of junction (complexus adhaerens).

The lymph node sinus are channel structures of unquestionable importance in immunology and pathology, specifically in the filtering of the lymph, the transport and processing of antigens, the adhesion and migration of immune cells, and the spread of metastatic cancer cells. Our knowledge of the cell and molecular biology of the sinus-forming cells is still limited, and the origin and biological nature of these cells have long been a matter of debate. Here, we review the relevant literature and present our own experimental results, in particular concerning molecular markers of intercellular junctions and cell differentiation.