Nitric oxide permits hypoxia-induced lymphatic perfusion by controlling arterial-lymphatic conduits in zebrafish and glass catfish

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Lasse Dahl Ejby Jensen
  • Renhai Cao
  • Eva-Maria Hedlund
  • Iris Söll
  • Jon O Lundberg
  • Giselbert Hauptmann
  • Steffensen, John Fleng
  • Yihai Cao
The blood and lymphatic vasculatures are structurally and functionally coupled in controlling tissue perfusion, extracellular interstitial fluids, and immune surveillance. Little is known, however, about the molecular mechanisms that underlie the regulation of bloodlymphatic vessel connections and lymphatic perfusion. Here we show in the adult zebrafish and glass catfish (Kryptopterus bicirrhis) that blood-lymphatic conduits directly connect arterial vessels to the lymphatic system. Under hypoxic conditions, arterial-lymphatic conduits (ALCs) became highly dilated and linearized by NO-induced vascular relaxation, which led to blood perfusion into the lymphatic system. NO blockage almost completely abrogated hypoxia-induced ALC relaxation and lymphatic perfusion. These findings uncover mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced oxygen compensation by perfusion of existing lymphatics in fish. Our results might also imply that the hypoxia-induced NO pathway contributes to development of progression of pathologies, including promotion of lymphatic metastasis by modulating arterial-lymphatic conduits, in the mammalian system.
Original languageEnglish
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America
Volume106
Issue number43
Pages (from-to)18408-13
Number of pages5
ISSN0027-8424
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

ID: 16239565