Neutrophils contribute to inflammatory lymphangiogenesis by increasing VEGF-A bioavailability and secreting VEGF-D

KW Tan, SZ Chong, FHS Wong… - Blood, The Journal …, 2013 - ashpublications.org
KW Tan, SZ Chong, FHS Wong, M Evrard, SML Tan, J Keeble, DM Kemeny, LG Ng
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2013ashpublications.org
Lymphangiogenesis is an important physiological response to inflammatory insult, acting to
limit inflammation. Macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes are known to drive
lymphangiogenesis. In this study, we show that neutrophils recruited to sites of inflammation
can also coordinate lymphangiogenesis. In the absence of B cells, intranodal
lymphangiogenesis induced during prolonged inflammation as a consequence of
immunization is dependent on the accumulation of neutrophils. When neutrophils are …
Abstract
Lymphangiogenesis is an important physiological response to inflammatory insult, acting to limit inflammation. Macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes are known to drive lymphangiogenesis. In this study, we show that neutrophils recruited to sites of inflammation can also coordinate lymphangiogenesis. In the absence of B cells, intranodal lymphangiogenesis induced during prolonged inflammation as a consequence of immunization is dependent on the accumulation of neutrophils. When neutrophils are depleted in wild-type mice developing skin inflammation in response to immunization or contact hypersensitization, lymphangiogenesis is decreased and local inflammation is increased. We demonstrate that neutrophils contribute to lymphangiogenesis primarily by modulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A bioavailability and bioactivity and, to a lesser extent, secreting VEGF-D. We further show that neutrophils increased VEGF-A bioavailability and bioactivity via the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases 9 and heparanase. Together, these findings uncover a novel function for neutrophils as organizers of lymphangiogenesis during inflammation.
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