Aberrant mural cell recruitment to lymphatic vessels and impaired lymphatic drainage in a murine model of pulmonary fibrosis

Blood. 2012 Jun 14;119(24):5931-42. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-12-396895. Epub 2012 Apr 30.

Abstract

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease with unknown etiology that is characterized by extensive remodeling of the lung parenchyma, ultimately resulting in respiratory failure. Lymphatic vessels have been implicated with the development of pulmonary fibrosis, but the role of the lymphatic vasculature in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis remains enigmatic. Here we show in a murine model of pulmonary fibrosis that lymphatic vessels exhibit ectopic mural coverage and that this occurs early during the disease. The abnormal lymphatic vascular patterning in fibrotic lungs was driven by expression of platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) in lymphatic endothelial cells and signaling through platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-β in associated mural cells. Because of impaired lymphatic drainage, aberrant mural cell coverage fostered the accumulation of fibrogenic molecules and the attraction of fibroblasts to the perilymphatic space. Pharmacologic inhibition of the PDGF-B/PDGFR-β signaling axis disrupted the association of mural cells and lymphatic vessels, improved lymphatic drainage of the lung, and prevented the attraction of fibroblasts to the perilymphatic space. Our results implicate aberrant mural cell recruitment to lymphatic vessels in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and that the drainage capacity of pulmonary lymphatics is a critical mediator of fibroproliferative changes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronic Acid / metabolism
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lymphatic Vessels / metabolism
  • Lymphatic Vessels / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Perilymph / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / pathology*
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta