Lymphatic pump function in the inflamed gut.

**Editor's Note:  I am including this brief article on inflammation and the intestinal regions as IL causes a tremendous amount of inflammation, as does lymphedema.  This describes what transpires during that inflammation. Pat**

Oct 2010

Von Der Weid PY, Rehal S.

Source

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Inflammation Research Network and Smooth Muscle Research Group, Snyder Institute of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. vonderwe@ucalgary.ca

Abstract

The role of the lymphatic circulation to actively remove fluid, cells, proteins, and other particles from the interstitium to prevent mounting edema is well appreciated, but whether and how this function is compromised during inflammation has been scarcely investigated. We discuss here the mechanisms of lymphatic pumping and their modulation in inflammatory conditions or by inflammatory mediators in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an ensemble of disorders typically described with abnormal or dysfunctional intestinal or mesenteric lymphatic vessels. We report our findings showing impaired mesenteric lymphatic contractile activity in an animal model of intestinal inflammation that recapitulates some features of IBD and suggests a role for prostanoids in this dysfunction. With the knowledge that prostaglandin E(2) and prostacyclin are implicated in IBD pathogenesis and induce a potent inhibition of lymphatic pumping, we established the pharmacological profile for these prostaglandin receptors in mesenteric lymphatic vessels and their respective role in pumping inhibition. Inhibition of mesenteric lymphatic pumping during inflammation may be a cause of edema, compromised immune response, and granuloma associated with IBD.

Wiley Online