Lymphedema, a common complication of cancer treatment, is characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and adipose deposition. We have previously shown that macrophage infiltration is increased in mouse models of lymphedema. Because macrophages are regulators of lymphangiogenesis and fibrosis, this study aimed to determine the role of these cells in lymphedema using depletion experiments. Matched biopsy specimens of normal and lymphedema tissues were obtained from patients with unilateral upper extremity breast cancer-related lymphedema, and macrophage accumulation was assessed using immunohistochemistry. In addition, we used a mouse tail model of lymphedema to quantify macrophage accumulation and analyze outcomes of conditional macrophage depletion. Histological analysis of clinical lymphedema biopsies revealed significantly increased macrophage infiltration. Similarly, in the mouse tail model, lymphatic injury increased the number of macrophages and favored M2 differentiation. Chronic macrophage depletion using lethally irradiated wild-type mice reconstituted with CD11b-diphtheria toxin receptor mouse bone marrow did not decrease swelling, adipose deposition, or overall inflammation. Macrophage depletion after lymphedema had become established significantly increased fibrosis and accumulation of CD4(+) cells and promoted Th2 differentiation while decreasing lymphatic transport capacity and VEGF-C expression. Our findings suggest that macrophages home to lymphedematous tissues and differentiate into the M2 phenotype. In addition, our findings suggest that macrophages have an antifibrotic role in lymphedema and either directly or indirectly regulate CD4(+) cell accumulation and Th2 differentiation. Finally, our findings suggest that lymphedema-associated macrophages are a major source of VEGF-C and that impaired macrophage responses after lymphatic injury result in decreased lymphatic function.

Although obesity is a major clinical risk factor for lymphedema, the mechanisms that regulate this effect remain unknown. Recent reports have demonstrated that obesity is associated with acquired lymphatic dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine how obesity-induced lymphatic dysfunction modulates the pathological effects of lymphatic injury in a mouse model. We used a diet-induced model of obesity in adult male C57BL/6J mice in which experimental animals were fed a high-fat diet and control animals were fed a normal chow diet for 8-10 wk. We then surgically ablated the superficial and deep lymphatics of the midportion of the tail. Six weeks postoperatively, we analyzed changes in lymphatic function, adipose deposition, inflammation, and fibrosis. We also compared responses to acute inflammatory stimuli in obese and lean mice. Compared with lean control mice, obese mice had baseline decreased lymphatic function. Lymphedema in obese mice further impaired lymphatic function and resulted in increased subcutaneous adipose deposition, increased CD45(+) and CD4(+) cell inflammation (P < 0.01), and increased fibrosis, but caused no change in the number of lymphatic vessels. Interestingly, obese mice had a significantly increased acute inflammatory reaction to croton oil application. In conclusion, obese mice have impaired lymphatic function at baseline that is amplified by lymphatic injury. This effect is associated with increased chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and adipose deposition. These findings suggest that obese patients are at higher risk for lymphedema due to impaired baseline lymphatic clearance and an increased propensity for inflammation in response to injury.

Lymphedema (LE) is a morbid disease characterized by chronic limb swelling and adipose deposition. Although it is clear that lymphatic injury is necessary for this pathology, the mechanisms that underlie lymphedema remain unknown. IL-6 is a known regulator of adipose homeostasis in obesity and has been shown to be increased in primary and secondary models of lymphedema. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the role of IL-6 in adipose deposition in lymphedema. The expression of IL-6 was analyzed in clinical tissue specimens and serum from patients with or without LE, as well as in two mouse models of lymphatic injury. In addition, we analyzed IL-6 expression/adipose deposition in mice deficient in CD4+ cells (CD4KO) or IL-6 expression (IL-6KO) or mice treated with a small molecule inhibitor of IL-6 or CD4 depleting antibodies to determine how IL-6 expression is regulated and the effect of changes in IL-6 expression on adipose deposition after lymphatic injury. Patients with LE and mice treated with lymphatic excision of the tail had significantly elevated tissue and serum expression of IL-6 and its downstream mediator. The expression of IL-6 was associated with adipose deposition and CD4+ inflammation and was markedly decreased in CD4KO mice. Loss of IL-6 function resulted in significantly increased adipose deposition after tail lymphatic injury. Our findings suggest that IL-6 is increased as a result of adipose deposition and CD4+ cell inflammation in lymphedema. In addition, our study suggests that IL-6 expression in lymphedema acts to limit adipose accumulation.

Human ASCs did not alter growth of human head/neck cancer cells or tumor xenografts, but stimulated migration and early micrometastasis to mouse brain.

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Introduction Lymph node transplantation is a promising surgical technique for the treatment of lymphedema. However, while initial clinical results have been largely promising, inconsistent responses have been reported in some cases. While the cause of this inconsistency remains unknown, it is likely that impaired lymphangiogenesis and spontaneous regeneration of lymphatic vessels in the transplanted lymph nodes may be a contributing factor suggesting that development of novel techniques to augment lymphangiogenesis may be clinically useful. The aim of this study was therefore to determine if sterile inflammatory reactions can serve as a physiologic means of augmenting lymphangiogenesis in transplanted lymph nodes using a murine model. Methods We used our previously reported model of lymph node transfer to study the effect of sterile inflammation on lymphatic regeneration. Mice were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 animals served as controls and underwent lymphadenectomy followed by immediate lymph node transplantation without inflammation. Group 2 animals (inflammation before transfer) were transplanted with lymph nodes harvested from donor animals in which a sterile inflammatory reaction was induced in the ipsilateral donor limb using complete Freund’s adjuvant and ovalbumin (CFA/OVA). Group 3 animals (inflammation after transfer) were transplanted with lymph nodes and then inflammation was induced in the ipsilateral limb using CFA/OVA. Lymphatic function, lymphangiogenesis, and lymph node histology were examined 28 days after transplant and compared with normal lymph node. Results Animals that had sterile inflammation after transplantation (group 3) had significantly improved lymphatic function (>2 fold increase) as assessed by lymphoscintigraphy, increased peri-nodal lymphangiogenesis, and functional lymphatics as compared with no-inflammation or inflammation before transplant groups (p<0.01). In addition, inflammation after transplantation was associated a more normal lymph node architecture, expansion of B cell zones, and decreased percentage of T cells as compared with the other experimental groups. Conclusion Sterile inflammation is a potent method of augmenting lymphatic function and lymphangiogenesis after lymph node transplantation and is associated with maintenance of lymph node architecture. Induction of inflammation after transplant is the most effective method and promotes maintenance of normal lymph node B and T cell architecture.

We have shown, for the first time, that microsurgical LVB not only improves symptomatology of lymphedema but also helps to improve pathologic changes in the skin. These findings suggest that the some of the pathologic changes of lymphedema are reversible and may be related to lymphatic fluid stasis.

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