Lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor 1 (LYVE-1)

Lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor 1 (LYVE-1) is a type I integral membrane glycoprotein and a member of the Link protein superfamily. It functions as a receptor for hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid), binding both soluble and immobilized forms of this glycosaminoglycan. LYVE-1 is highly and specifically expressed on the surface of lymphatic endothelium and lymph node sinuses, which has made it a widely used marker for identifying lymphatic vessels in both normal and disease contexts. Its functions include possible roles in hyaluronan uptake, lymphatic hyaluronan transport, immune cell trafficking (especially dendritic cells and leukocytes), and potentially serving as a docking receptor during cell transmigration. Despite its specificity and abundance on lymphatics, genetic knockout studies in mice show no essential requirement for LYVE-1 in development, lymphatic function, or immune cell trafficking under physiological conditions, suggesting redundancy or compensation by other molecules. However, LYVE-1 may play more specialized roles in pathologic settings, such as during tumor metastasis and certain inflammatory responses

Other names

LYVE-1Lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1

Not established for drugs as there are no approved drugs known to act directly through LYVE-1. For molecular mechanisms: mediates binding and internalization of hyaluronan, potentially involved in the transmigration of hyaluronan-presenting immune cells