Lymphatic Drainage-Promoting Effects by Engraftment of Artificial Lymphatic Vascular Tissue Based on Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Mice

Figure 1

Lymphatic vascular structure in FbLT and ASCLT. FbLT (a) and ASCLT (b) were constructed by the sandwich manner (green: HDLECs; grey: fibroblasts; orange: hASCs), and the lymphatic vascular structure was compared. The artificial lymphatic networks are visualized by immunostaining for podoplanin. The arrow heads indicate the formation of tip structure suggesting the sprouting of the vessels. VEGFR2 is detected in the tip of ASCLT ((b), inset). (c) Quantitative analysis of lymphatic vascular structures (n = 5). The ASCLT shows higher score in total length, number of junctions, vessel area, and number of tips than FbLT. (d–f) The frequency in phosphorylated histone H3- (pHis H3-) positive cells (n = 5). The lymphatic vascular networks visualized by immunostaining for CD31. (g–i) The density of endothelial cells in the lymphatic vascular networks visualized by immunostaining for prox-1 and CD31 (n = 5). (j) Epon-embedded ASCLT was sectioned and stained with toluidine blue. The tubular structures (LV) are observed. (k) Section of paraffin-embedded ASCLT was immunostained for αSMA and CD31. No αSMA-positive cells surrounding CD31-positive vessels are observed. (l) TEM image of ASCLT. The closed tubular structures (LV) are formed by interendothelial junctions (arrows).