The passive biomechanics of human pelvic collecting lymphatic vessels

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Athanasiou, D (Author) Other; Edgar, LT (Author) Other; Jafarnejad, M (Author) Other; Nixon, K (Author) Other; Duarte, D (Author) FMUP; Hawkins, ED (Author) Other; Jamalian, S (Author) Other; Cunnea, P (Author) Other; Lo Celso, C (Author) Other; Kobayashi, S (Author) Other; Fotopoulou, C (Author) Other; Moore, JE (Author) Other

Journal

Title: PLoS ONE

Vol. 12 No. 1

ISSN: 1932-6203

Publisher: Public Library of Science

Indexing

Scopus - 6 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-90S

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183222

Abstract (EN): The lymphatic system has a major significance in the metastatic pathways in women¿s cancers. Lymphatic pumping depends on both extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms, and the mechanical behavior of lymphatic vessels regulates the function of the system. However, data on the mechanical properties and function of human lymphatics are lacking. Our aim is to characterize, for the first time, the passive biomechanical behavior of human collecting lymphatic vessels removed at pelvic lymph node dissection during primary debulking surgeries for epithelial ovarian cancer. Isolated vessels were cannulated and then pressurized at varying levels of applied axial stretch in a calcium-free Krebs buffer. Pressurized vessels were then imaged using multi-photon microscopy for collagen-elastin structural composition and fiber orientation. Both pressure-diameter and force-elongation responses were highly nonlinear, and axial stretching of the vessel served to decrease diameter at constant pressure. Pressure-diameter behavior for the human vessels is very similar to data from rat mesenteric vessels, though the human vessels were approximately 10× larger than those from rats. Multiphoton microscopy revealed the vessels to be composed of an inner layer of elastin with an outer layer of aligned collagen fibers. This is the first study that successfully described the passive biomechanical response and composition of human lymphatic vessels in patients with ovarian cancer. Future work should expand on this knowledge base with investigations of vessels from other anatomical locations, contractile behavior, and the implications on metastatic cell transport. © 2017 Athanasiou et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific