Quantification of Lymphangiogenesis in the Murine Lymphedema Tail Model Using Intravital Microscopy.
Lymphat Res Biol
; 22(3): 195-202, 2024 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38699876
ABSTRACT
Background:
Lymphedema is chronic limb swelling resulting from lymphatic dysfunction. It affects an estimated five million Americans. There is no cure for this disease. Assessing lymphatic growth is essential in developing novel therapeutics. Intravital microscopy (IVM) is a powerful imaging tool for investigating various biological processes in live animals. Tissue nanotransfection technology (TNT) facilitates a direct, transcutaneous nonviral vector gene delivery using a chip with nanochannel poration in a rapid (<100 ms) focused electric field. TNT was used in this study to deliver the genetic cargo in the murine tail lymphedema to assess the lymphangiogenesis. The purpose of this study is to experimentally evaluate the applicability of IVM to visualize and quantify lymphatics in the live mice model. Methods andResults:
The murine tail model of lymphedema was utilized. TNT was applied to the murine tail (day 0) directly at the surgical site with genetic cargo loaded into the TNT reservoir TNTpCMV6 group receives pCMV6 (expression vector backbone alone) (n = 6); TNTProx1 group receives pCMV6-Prox1 (n = 6). Lymphatic vessels (fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC]-dextran stained) and lymphatic branch points (indicating lymphangiogenesis) were analyzed with the confocal/multiphoton microscope. The experimental group TNTProx1 exhibited reduced postsurgical tail lymphedema and increased lymphatic distribution compared to TNTpCMV6 group. More lymphatic branching points (>3-fold) were observed at the TNT site in TNTProx1 group.Conclusions:
This study demonstrates a novel, powerful imaging tool for investigating lymphatic vessels in live murine tail model of lymphedema. IVM can be utilized for functional assessment of lymphatics and visualization of lymphangiogenesis following gene-based therapy.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Cauda
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Vasos Linfáticos
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Linfangiogênese
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Modelos Animais de Doenças
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Microscopia Intravital
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Linfedema
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Lymphat Res Biol
Assunto da revista:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos