Intravital imaging of pulmonary lymphatics in inflammation and metastatic cancer

Intravital microscopy has enabled the study of immune dynamics in the pulmonary microvasculature, but many key events remain unseen because they occur in deeper lung regions. We therefore developed a technique for stabilized intravital imaging of bronchovascular cuffs and collecting lymphatics surrounding pulmonary veins in mice. Intravital imaging of pulmonary lymphatics revealed ventilation-dependence of steady-state lung lymph flow and ventilation-independent lymph flow during inflammation. We imaged the rapid exodus of migratory dendritic cells through lung lymphatics following inflammation and measured effects of pharmacologic and genetic interventions targeting chemokine signaling. Intravital imaging also captured lymphatic immune surveillance of lung-metastatic cancers and lymphatic metastasis of cancer cells. To our knowledge, this is the first imaging of lymph flow and leukocyte migration through intact pulmonary lymphatics. This approach will enable studies of protective and maladaptive processes unfolding within the lungs and in other previously inaccessible locations. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=199 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/612619v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (64K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@66dd00org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1373576org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1970dfeorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@17c15c_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG