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Abstract

Medicine

Lymphatic and Blood Network Analysis During Obesity

Published: November 19th, 2020

DOI:

10.3791/61814

1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 2Université Côte d'Azur, 3Mediterranean Center of Molecular Medicine C3M, Team 13, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) UMR1065, 4Mediterranean Center of Molecular Medicine C3M, Team 7, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (Inserm) UMR1065
* These authors contributed equally

Lymphatic collecting vessels and lymph nodes are inevitably embedded in adipose tissue. The physiological significance of this observation remains still not elucidated. However, obesity is characterized by impaired lymphatic function and increased vessel permeability. Inversely, lymphatic dysfunction induces obesity in mice, suggesting a significant interplay between lymphatic vessels and the adipose tissue. Therefore, understanding factors leading to lymphatic dysfunction might open new therapeutic windows to prevent obesity and associated comorbidities. The first step in this process requires a precise and detailed visualization of the lymphatic network in healthy and inflamed adipose tissue. Here, we describe a rapid, inexpensive, and efficient method that allows to label and analyze lymphatic and blood vessels. This approach takes advantage of the skin-draining brachial lymph node localization within the subcutaneous adipose tissue. The lymphatic arborization of this tissue can be revealed by injecting fluorochrome-conjugated lectins subcutaneously. Moreover, the in vivo labeling approach provides a way to evaluate lymphatic vessel density and functions. Coupled to blood vessel, adipocyte and immune cell staining, the protocol allows for high-resolution mapping of the subcutaneous adipose tissue by 3D imaging.

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Lymphatic Network

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