Increased lymphatic circulation decreases CD4 counts in the lymph nodes of rats in adjuvant-induced arthritis

Abstract

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disorder characterized by chronic inflammation. Rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) is a RA model with dysfunctional lymphatic circulation. We hypothesized that increasing lymphatic circulation would decrease arthritic inflammation. In order to determine if increasing lymphatic flow would decrease arthritic inflammation, we utilized osteopathic lymphatic manipulation (Lymphatic pump treatment (LPT)) during either the onset or during arthritis. LPT was performed by gradually increasing compression on the rat chest wall over 5 seconds followed by rapid release for 5 seconds. This technique was repeated for 1 minute 3X/day for 7 consecutive days either before the onset of inflammation (preventative treatment) or after measurable inflammation (therapeutic treatment). Articular index scoring, ankle caliper measurements, and peripheral blood, spleens, and popliteal lymph nodes were collected. In both the preventative and therapeutic studies, the LPT-treated rats had reduced inflammation. Therapeutically treated animals also had significantly decreased CD4+ lymphocytes in the draining popliteal lymph nodes, with increases in CD4+ cells in the spleen. These results suggest that LPT can reduce arthritis and alter lymphocyte trafficking in secondary lymphoid organs during inflammation. These data suggest that forced lymphatic circulation through osteopathic manipulation may serve to enhance current treatments to decrease inflammatory diseases.