In Vitro Study of Permeability in Lymphatic Endothelial Cells Responding to Histamine.

Histamine is well characterized to cause hyperpermeability in both blood and lymphatic endothelial cells (BECs and LECs) in infection and inflammation. The increased permeability impairs the barrier function of vessels to fluid, soluble electrolytes, and proteins, resulting in the swelling of interstitial tissues, termed edema and lymphedema. Here, we describe two approaches to study the permeability of LECs, to macromolecules or to electrolytes, upon histamine stimulation in vitro.