Figure 2.

Podoplanin⁺ LYVE-1⁻ tube-like structures in atherosclerotic lesions. Double immunofluorescence staining for lymphatic endothelial markers, LYVE-1 (red) and podoplanin (green) in atherosclerotic lesions of apoE^−/− mice. A) In aged apoE^−/− mice fed normal diet (n = 5; 54–58 wk; M:F, 0.6) and in WD-fed apoE^−/− mice (n = 3; 32 wk; M:F, 0.4), podoplanin⁺ LYVE-1⁻ tube-like structures were found in the intimal space (yellow arrowheads). Podoplanin⁺ LYVE-1⁻ tube-like structure crossing the intimal media border (white arrows). B) Immunofluorescence staining for the lymphatic endothelial markers, VEGFR-3 (red) and PROX1 (green). Intimal lymphatic-like structures expressed VEGFR-3 but not PROX1.