title: Excess Lymphangiogenesis Cooperatively Induced by Macrophages and CD4(+) T Cells Drives the Pathogenesis of Lymphedema.
abstract: Lymphedema is a debilitating progressive condition that severely restricts quality of life and is frequently observed after cancer surgery. The mechanism underlying lymphedema development remains poorly understood, and no effective pharmacological means to prevent or alleviate the ailment is currently available. Using a mouse model of lymphedema, we show here that excessive generation of immature lymphatic vessels is essential for initial edema development and that this early process is also important for later development of lymphedema pathology. We found that CD4(+) T cells interact with macrophages to promote lymphangiogenesis, and that both lymphangiogenesis and edema were greatly reduced in macrophage-depleted mice, lymphocyte-deficient Rag2(?/?) mice or CD4(+) T-cell-deficient mice. Mechanistically, T helper type 1 and T helper type 17 cells activate lesional macrophages to produce vascular endothelial growth factor-C, which promotes lymphangiogenesis, and inhibition of this mechanism suppressed not only early lymphangiogenesis, but also later development of lymphedema. Finally, we show that atorvastatin suppresses excessive lymphangiogenesis and lymphedema by inhibiting T helper type 1 and T helper type 17 cell activation. These results demonstrate that the interaction between CD4(+) T cells and macrophages is a potential therapeutic target for prevention of lymphedema after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fusa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Translational Systems Biology and Medicine Initiative, Graduate School of Medicine, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Translational Systems Biology and Medicine Initiative, Graduate School of Medicine, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Sahohime
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukiteru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Munehiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oike
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koshima
authors.affiliation: Section of Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Bio-matrix, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watabe
authors.affiliation: Jichi Medical University, Yakushiji, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryozo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Aging Research, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan. Electronic address: manabe-tky@umin.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Manabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: LECs; T helper; Th; VEGF; VEGF receptor 3; VEGFR3; lymphatic endothelial cells; vascular endothelial growth factor