Abstract
Despite being considered present in most vascularised tissues, lymphatic vessels have not been properly shown in human adipose tissue (AT). Our goal in this study is to investigate an unanswered question in AT biology, regarding lymphatic network presence in tissue parenchyma. Using human subcutaneous (S-) and visceral (V-) AT samples with whole mount staining for lymphatic specific markers and three-dimensional imaging, we showed lymphatic capillaries and larger lymphatic vessels in the human VAT. Conversely, in the human SAT, microcirculatory lymphatic vascular structures were rarely detected and no initial lymphatics were found.
Highlights
The lymphatic system, an essential component of the immunological system, is responsible for draining the remaining 10% of interstitial fluid that does not return to blood veins through an extensive network of capillaries and vessels spread throughout the body (Jeltsch et al 2003; Tammela and Alitalo 2010)
In spite of these associations and of being considered present in virtually all vascularised tissues of the human body, with the exception of bone (Tammela and Alitalo 2010), initial lymphatic vessels have been rarely described in adipose tissue
Previous studies have shown adipose tissue associated with collecting lymphatic vessels in lymph nodes (Wang and Oliver 2010), in ectopic deposits such as the epicardial adipose tissue (Montani et al 2004) and in fat deposits adjacent to the aorta (Martel et al 2013)
Summary
The lymphatic system, an essential component of the immunological system, is responsible for draining the remaining 10% of interstitial fluid that does not return to blood veins through an extensive network of capillaries and vessels spread throughout the body (Jeltsch et al 2003; Tammela and Alitalo 2010). It was observed that a high-fat diet induces lymphatic dysfunction accompanied by capillary dilation in the dermis and reduction of the contractile function of collecting vessels (Aschen et al 2012; Blum et al 2014; Sawane et al 2013; Weitman et al 2013). Despite these elusive connections between adipose tissue and lymphatic vasculature and the functional requirement of efficient interactions between them, the SAT and VAT lymphatic vascularisation remains incompletely described in humans. We investigate lymph vessels in the human SAT and VAT, showing for the first time the lymphatic microvascular structure in human VAT
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