A system for quantifying the patterning of the lymphatic vasculature.
The lymphatic vasculature is critical for immunity and interstitial fluid homeostasis, playing important roles in diseases such as lymphedema and metastatic cancer. Animal models have been generated to explore the role of lymphatics and lymphangiogenic growth factors in such diseases, and to study lymphatic development. However, analysis of lymphatic vessels has primary been restricted to counting lymphatics in two-dimensional tissue slices, due to a lack of more sophisticated methodologies. In order to accurately examine lymphatic dysfunction in these models, and analyse the effects of lymphangiogenic growth factors on the lymphatic vasculature, it is essential to quantify the morphology and patterning of the distinct lymphatic vessels types in three-dimensional tissues. Here, we describe a method for performing such analyses, integrating user-operated image-analysis software with an approach that considers important morphological, anatomical and patterning features of the distinct lymphatic vessel subtypes. This efficient, reproducible technique is validated by analysing healthy and pathological tissues.
Shayan
Ramin
R
Melbourne Tumor Biology Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Karnezis
Tara
T
Tsantikos
Evelyn
E
Williams
Steven P
SP
Runting
Andrew S
AS
Ashton
Mark W
MW
Achen
Marc G
MG
Hibbs
Margaret L
ML
Stacker
Steven A
SA
D000818:Animals; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D023421:Models, Animal; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000502:physiology; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing
D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D