title: Lymphangiogenesis in COPD: another link in the pathogenesis of the disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New lymphatic vessels are associated with tissue injury and repair. Recent studies have shown increased lymphatic follicles formation in the lungs of COPD patients. We hypothesized that lymphatic vascular remodeling could be part of COPD pathogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the lymphangiogenetic process in COPD we measured the lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD), the lymphatic invasion (L.I), and their correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lung tissue from 20 COPD patients and 20 non-COPD smokers was immunohistochemically stained for D2-40 (lymphatic endothelial cell marker), and LYVE-1 (lymphatic endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1). Both groups had similar age and smoking history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  D2-40 and LYVE-1 were expressed in all specimens. Lymphatic invasion was presented only in COPD specimens. Lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) as revealed by D2-40 and LYVE-1 markers was statistically significantly higher in COPD patients when compared with non-COPD smokers. Both markers (D2-40, LYVE-1) were correlated with FEV1 (% pred) (R(2) = 0.415, R(2) = 0.605, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report for the first time high lymphatic microvessel density and lymphatic invasion in COPD patients, related to the degree of airway obstruction. Our findings could provide novel insights in the pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hardavella
authors.forename: Eleni G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Tzortzaki
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siozopoulou
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galanis
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vlachaki
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avgousti
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stefanou
authors.forename: Nikolaos M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Siafakas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015415:Biomarkers; C119248:LYVE1 protein, human; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C500987:monoclonal antibody D2-40