Table 1.

Molecular markers of lymphatic endothelium in the adult kidney

LEC Marker	Molecular Function	Non-LEC Expression in the Kidneya
PROX1	Transcription factor involved in the maintenance of lymphatic identity25	Thick ascending limbs of the loop of Henle restricted to the inner medulla26 and reported in ascending vasa recta27
LYVE-1	Membrane glycoprotein and receptor for hyaluronan facilitating DC entry into lymphatic vessels28	Some endothelial cells in the glomerulus12
VEGFR-3	Receptor tyrosine kinase required for LEC tip function and vessel sprouting29	Ascending vasa recta27 and cortical peritubular capillaries30
PDPN	Membrane glycoprotein maintaining separation between blood and lymphatic endothelium31	Podocytes32
Neuropilin 2 (NRP2)	Transmembrane protein interacting with VEGFR-3 promoting VEGF-C–mediated lymphatic sprouting33	Blood endothelial cells34 b

^aDetermined from studies of mouse or rat adult kidney.

^bDerived from single-cell RNA sequencing, because no published immunostaining is available for NRP2.