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Zhou S, Zhao G, Chen R, Li Y, Huang J, Kuang L, Zhang D, Li Z, Xu H, Xiang W, Xie Y, Chen L, Ni Z. Lymphatic vessels: roles and potential therapeutic intervention in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Theranostics 2024; 14:265-282. [PMID: 38164153 PMCID: PMC10750203 DOI: 10.7150/thno.90940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic vessel networks are a main part of the vertebrate cardiovascular system, which participate in various physiological and pathological processes via regulation of fluid transport and immunosurveillance. Targeting lymphatic vessels has become a potent strategy for treating various human diseases. The presence of varying degrees of inflammation in joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), characterized by heightened infiltration of inflammatory cells, increased levels of inflammatory factors, and activation of inflammatory signaling pathways, significantly contributes to the disruption of cartilage and bone homeostasis in arthritic conditions. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the pivotal role of lymphatic vessels in maintaining joint homeostasis, with their pathological alterations closely associated with the initiation and progression of inflammatory joint diseases. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving knowledge regarding the structural and functional aspects of lymphatic vessels in the pathogenesis of RA and OA. In addition, we summarized the potential regulatory mechanisms underlying the modulation of lymphatic function in maintaining joint homeostasis during inflammatory conditions, and further discuss the distinctions between RA and OA. Moreover, we describe therapeutic strategies for inflammatory arthritis based on lymphatic vessels, including the promotion of lymphangiogenesis, restoration of proper lymphatic vessel function through anti-inflammatory approaches, enhancement of lymphatic contractility and drainage, and alleviation of congestion within the lymphatic system through the elimination of inflammatory cells. At last, we envisage potential research perspectives and strategies to target lymphatic vessels in treating these inflammatory joint diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siru Zhou
- War Trauma Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
- Department of Wound Repair and Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangyu Zhao
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People's Republic of China
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China
| | - Ran Chen
- War Trauma Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
- Department of Wound Repair and Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Li
- War Trauma Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
| | - Junlan Huang
- Department of Wound Repair and Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Kuang
- Department of Wound Repair and Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
| | - Dali Zhang
- Department of Wound Repair and Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
- The Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang 110015, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijun Li
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China
| | - Haofeng Xu
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangli Xie
- Department of Wound Repair and Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Wound Repair and Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 40038, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenhong Ni
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Army Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, People's Republic of China
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Peng Y, Kenney HM, de Mesy Bentley KL, Xing L, Ritchlin CT, Schwarz EM. Distinct mast cell subpopulations within and around lymphatic vessels regulate lymph flow and progression of inflammatory-erosive arthritis in TNF-transgenic mice. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1275871. [PMID: 38155962 PMCID: PMC10752982 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Inflammatory-erosive arthritis is exacerbated by dysfunction of joint-draining popliteal lymphatic vessels (PLVs). Synovial mast cells are known to be pro-inflammatory in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In other settings they have anti-inflammatory and tissue reparative effects. Herein, we elucidate the role of mast cells on PLV function and inflammatory-erosive arthritis in tumor necrosis factor transgenic (TNF-tg) mice that exhibit defects in PLVs commensurate with disease progression. Methods Whole mount immunofluorescent microscopy, toluidine blue stained histology, scanning electron microscopy, and in silico bioinformatics were performed to phenotype and quantify PLV mast cells. Ankle bone volumes were assessed by μCT, while corresponding histology quantified synovitis and osteoclasts. Near-infrared indocyanine green imaging measured lymphatic clearance as an outcome of PLV draining function. Effects of genetic MC depletion were assessed via comparison of 4.5-month-old WT, TNF-tg, MC deficient KitW-sh/W-sh (cKit-/-), and TNF-tg x cKit-/- mice. Pharmacological inhibition of mast cells was assessed by treating TNF-tg mice with placebo or cromolyn sodium (3.15mg/kg/day) for 3-weeks. Results PLVs are surrounded by MCT+/MCPT1+/MCPT4+ mast cells whose numbers are increased 2.8-fold in TNF-tg mice. The percentage of peri-vascular degranulating mast cells was inversely correlated with ICG clearance. A population of MCT+/MCPT1-/MCPT4- mast cells were embedded within the PLV structure. In silico single-cell RNA-seq (scRNAseq) analyses identified a population of PLV-associated mast cells (marker genes: Mcpt4, Cma1, Cpa3, Tpsb2, Kit, Fcer1a & Gata2) with enhanced TGFβ-related signaling that are phenotypically distinct from known MC subsets in the Mouse Cell Atlas. cKit-/- mice have greater lymphatic defects than TNF-tg mice with exacerbation of lymphatic dysfunction and inflammatory-erosive arthritis in TNF-tg x cKit-/- vs. TNF-Tg mice. Cromolyn sodium therapy stabilized PLV mast cells, increased TNF-induced bone loss, synovitis, and osteoclasts, and decreased ICG clearance. Conclusions Mast cells are required for normal lymphatic function. Genetic ablation and pharmacological inhibition of mast cells exacerbates TNF-induced inflammatory-erosive arthritis with decreased lymphatic clearance. Together, these findings support an inflammatory role of activated/degranulated peri-PLV mast cells during arthritic progression, and a homeostatic role of intra-PLV mast cells, in which loss of the latter dominantly exacerbates arthritis secondary to defects in joint-draining lymphatics, warranting investigation into specific cellular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Peng
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - H. Mark Kenney
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Karen L. de Mesy Bentley
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Lianping Xing
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Christopher T. Ritchlin
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Edward M. Schwarz
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
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Lei PJ, Ruscic KJ, Roh K, Rajotte JJ, O'Melia MJ, Bouta EM, Marquez M, Pereira ER, Kumar AS, Arroyo-Ataz G, Razavi MS, Zhou H, Menzel L, Kumra H, Duquette M, Huang P, Baish JW, Munn LL, Ubellacker JM, Jones D, Padera TP. Lymphatic muscle cells are unique cells that undergo aging induced changes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.18.567621. [PMID: 38014141 PMCID: PMC10680808 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.18.567621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) within the wall of collecting lymphatic vessels exhibit tonic and autonomous phasic contractions, which drive active lymph transport to maintain tissue-fluid homeostasis and support immune surveillance. Damage to LMCs disrupts lymphatic function and is related to various diseases. Despite their importance, knowledge of the transcriptional signatures in LMCs and how they relate to lymphatic function in normal and disease contexts is largely missing. We have generated a comprehensive transcriptional single-cell atlas-including LMCs-of collecting lymphatic vessels in mouse dermis at various ages. We identified genes that distinguish LMCs from other types of muscle cells, characterized the phenotypical and transcriptomic changes in LMCs in aged vessels, and uncovered a pro-inflammatory microenvironment that suppresses the contractile apparatus in advanced-aged LMCs. Our findings provide a valuable resource to accelerate future research for the identification of potential drug targets on LMCs to preserve lymphatic vessel function as well as supporting studies to identify genetic causes of primary lymphedema currently with unknown molecular explanation.
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Kenney HM, Rangel-Moreno J, Peng Y, Chen KL, Bruno J, Embong A, Pritchett E, Fox JI, Becerril-Villanueva E, Gamboa-Domínguez A, Quataert S, Muthukrishnan G, Wood RW, Korman BD, Anolik JH, Xing L, Ritchlin CT, Schwarz EM, Wu CL. Multi-omics analysis identifies IgG2b class-switching with ALCAM-CD6 co-stimulation in joint-draining lymph nodes during advanced inflammatory-erosive arthritis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1237498. [PMID: 37691918 PMCID: PMC10485835 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1237498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Defective lymphatic drainage and translocation of B-cells in inflamed (Bin) joint-draining lymph node sinuses are pathogenic phenomena in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this lymphatic dysfunction remain poorly understood. Herein, we utilized multi-omic spatial and single-cell transcriptomics to evaluate altered cellular composition (including lymphatic endothelial cells, macrophages, B-cells, and T-cells) in the joint-draining lymph node sinuses and their associated phenotypic changes and cell-cell interactions during RA development using the tumor necrosis factor transgenic (TNF-Tg) mouse model. Methods Popliteal lymph nodes (PLNs) from wild-type (n=10) and TNF-Tg male mice with "Early" (5 to 6-months of age; n=6) and "Advanced" (>8-months of age; n=12) arthritis were harvested and processed for spatial transcriptomics. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) was performed in PLNs from the TNF-Tg cohorts (n=6 PLNs pooled/cohort). PLN histopathology and ELISPOT along with ankle histology and micro-CT were evaluated. Histopathology of human lymph nodes and synovia was performed for clinical correlation. Results Advanced PLN sinuses exhibited an increased Ighg2b/Ighm expression ratio (Early 0.5 ± 0.1 vs Advanced 1.4 ± 0.5 counts/counts; p<0.001) that significantly correlated with reduced talus bone volumes in the afferent ankle (R2 = 0.54, p<0.001). Integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics revealed the increased IgG2b+ plasma cells localized in MARCO+ peri-follicular medullary sinuses. A concomitant decreased Fth1 expression (Early 2.5 ± 0.74 vs Advanced 1.0 ± 0.50 counts, p<0.001) within Advanced PLN sinuses was associated with accumulation of iron-laden Prussian blue positive macrophages in lymph nodes and synovium of Advanced TNF-Tg mice, and further validated in RA clinical samples. T-cells were increased 8-fold in Advanced PLNs, and bioinformatic pathway assessment identified the interaction between ALCAM+ macrophages and CD6+ T-cells as a plausible co-stimulatory mechanism to promote IgG2b class-switching. Discussion Collectively, these data support a model of flare in chronic TNF-induced arthritis in which loss of lymphatic flow through affected joint-draining lymph nodes facilitates the interaction between effluxing macrophages and T-cells via ALCAM-CD6 co-stimulation, initiating IgG2b class-switching and plasma cell differentiation of the expanded Bin population. Future work is warranted to investigate immunoglobulin clonality and potential autoimmune consequences, as well as the efficacy of anti-CD6 therapy to prevent these pathogenic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Mark Kenney
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Javier Rangel-Moreno
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Yue Peng
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Kiana L. Chen
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Jennifer Bruno
- Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Abdul Embong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Elizabeth Pritchett
- Genomics Research Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Jeffrey I. Fox
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Enrique Becerril-Villanueva
- Psychoimmunology Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Armando Gamboa-Domínguez
- Department of Pathology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sally Quataert
- Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Gowrishankar Muthukrishnan
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Ronald W. Wood
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Benjamin D. Korman
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Jennifer H. Anolik
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Lianping Xing
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Christopher T. Ritchlin
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Edward M. Schwarz
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Urology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Chia-Lung Wu
- Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Orthopaedics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
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