Lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic remodeling induced by filarial parasites: implications for pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Even in the absence of an adaptive immune system in murine models, lymphatic dilatation and dysfunction occur in filarial infections, although severe irreversible lymphedema and elephantiasis appears to require an intact adaptive immune response in human infections. To address how filarial parasites and their antigens influence the lymphatics directly, human lymphatic endothelial cells were exposed to filarial antigens, live parasites, or infected patient serum. Live filarial parasites or filarial antigens induced both significant LEC proliferation and differentiation into tube-like structures in vitro. Moreover, serum from patently infected (microfilaria positive) patients and those with longstanding chronic lymphatic obstruction induced significantly increased LEC proliferation compared

SUBMITTER: Bennuru S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2781552 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature