The lymphatic system is an essential part of the immune system. It serves distinct yet complementary function with the blood vascular system in maintaining tissue homeostasis. The lymphatic system returns fluid and macromolecules from the tissues back into blood circulation and, thus, plays a vital role in the regulation of fluid, protein, and pressure equilibrium in tissues. Although lymphatic capillary endothelial cells have many properties in common with the endothelium of blood vessels, they also have distinct structural characteristics reflecting their specific functions. Lymphatic capillaries lack mural cells and are characterized by an incomplete or absent basement membrane. Lymphatic endothelium typically contains numerous invaginations and cytoplasmic vesicles as well as characteristic overlapping intercellular junctions. One of the most striking characteristics of the lymphatic capillary is its integration within the interstitium which is connected to the extracellular matrix by fine strands of elastic fibers.HLEC from AcceGen Research Laboratories are isolated from human lymph nodes. HLEC are cryopreserved on passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5×10 ^5 cells in 1 ml volume. HLEC are characterized by immunofluorescent method with antibodies to vWF/Factor VIII and CD31 (P-CAM) and by uptake of DiI-Ac-LDL. HLEC are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HLEC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings at the conditions provided by AcceGen Research Laboratories.
