Dendritic cells enter lymph vessels by hyaluronan-mediated docking to the endothelial receptor LYVE-1.

Trafficking of tissue dendritic cells (DCs) via lymph is critical for the generation of cellular immune responses in draining lymph nodes (LNs). In the current study we found that DCs docked to the basolateral surface of lymphatic vessels and transited to the lumen through hyaluronan-mediated interactions with the lymph-specific endothelial receptor LYVE-1, in dynamic transmigratory-cup-like structures. Furthermore, we show that targeted deletion of the gene Lyve1, antibody blockade or depletion of the DC hyaluronan coat not only delayed lymphatic trafficking of dermal DCs but also blunted their capacity to prime CD8 T cell responses in skin-draining LNs.

Homodimerization of the Lymph Vessel Endothelial Receptor LYVE-1 through a Redox-labile Disulfide Is Critical for Hyaluronan Binding in Lymphatic Endothelium.

The lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor LYVE-1 is implicated in the uptake of hyaluronan (HA) and trafficking of leukocytes to draining lymph nodes. Yet LYVE-1 has only weak affinity for hyaluronan and depends on receptor clustering and higher order ligand organization for durable binding in lymphatic endothelium. An unusual feature of LYVE-1 not found in other HA receptors is the potential to form disulfide-linked homodimers.

Binding of Hyaluronan to the Native Lymphatic Vessel Endothelial Receptor LYVE-1 Is Critically Dependent on Receptor Clustering and Hyaluronan Organization.

The lymphatic endothelial receptor LYVE-1 has been implicated in both uptake of hyaluronan (HA) from tissue matrix and in facilitating transit of leukocytes and tumor cells through lymphatic vessels based largely onin vitrostudies with recombinant receptor in transfected fibroblasts. Curiously, however, LYVE-1 in lymphatic endothelium displays little if any binding to HAin vitro, and this has led to the conclusion that the native receptor is functionally silenced, a feature that is difficult to reconcile with its proposedin vivofunctions. Nonetheless, as we reported recently, LYVE-1 can function as a receptor for HA-encapsulated Group A streptococci and mediate lymphatic dissemination in mice.