Institute for Global Rare Disease Network, Professional Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea.
Nervous & Muscular System Disease Clinical Research Center of Wonkwang University Gwangju Korean Medical Hospital, Gwangju, 61729, Republic of Korea.
Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 18;14(1):28449. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-80155-1.
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in immune function and the removal of cellular waste. Recent studies have highlighted the presence of primo vessels (PVs) inside lymphatic vessels, distinct from conventional lymphatic tissues, yet their structural and functional characteristics remain poorly understood, particularly PVs inside deep cervical lymphatic vessels (dcLVs) connected to the meningeal lymphatics. We used a combination of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Alcian Blue (AB) and H&E staining techniques to identify and characterize PVs inside the dcLVs of mice. PVs were identified inside the dcLVs, revealing distinct bundle structures composed of 3 to 5 primo subvessels (sub-PV), with diameters of 5.4 ± 2.4 μm. AFM analyses confirmed the presence of nm-sized pores on the sub-PVs, which may facilitate the absorption and retention of nanoparticles. Rod-shaped nuclei were also observed, further distinguishing PVs from other vascular structures. Our study provides new insights into the structural characteristics of PVs inside dcLVs, suggesting their potential role in targeted drug delivery. However, further research is required to explore the functional implications of these structures, especially their therapeutic applications and roles in various lymphatic regions, including the meningeal lymphatics.
淋巴系统在免疫功能和细胞废物清除中起着至关重要的作用。最近的研究强调了在淋巴管内存在原初血管（PVs），它们与传统的淋巴组织不同，但它们的结构和功能特征仍知之甚少，特别是与脑膜淋巴管相连的深部颈淋巴导管（dcLVs）内的 PVs。我们使用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、原子力显微镜（AFM）、阿尔辛蓝（AB）和 H&E 染色技术的组合，来识别和描述小鼠 dcLVs 内的 PVs。在 dcLVs 内鉴定出了 PVs，揭示了由 3 到 5 个原初小血管（sub-PV）组成的独特束状结构，直径为 5.4±2.4μm。AFM 分析证实了 sub-PVs 上存在纳米级大小的孔，这可能有助于纳米颗粒的吸收和保留。还观察到了杆状核，进一步将 PVs 与其他血管结构区分开来。我们的研究提供了 dcLVs 内 PVs 结构特征的新见解，表明它们在靶向药物输送中可能具有潜在的作用。然而，需要进一步的研究来探索这些结构的功能意义，特别是它们在各种淋巴区域（包括脑膜淋巴管）中的治疗应用和作用。
