Autologous lymph nodes fragmentary transplantation combined with vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) on athymic nude mice to explore the association between regeneration of lymphatic vessel and tumor cell migration.

A total of 45 nude mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: Group A, simple autologous lymph nodes fragmentary transplantation, n=15; Group B, autologous lymph nodes fragmentary transplantation together with VEGF-C, n=15; Group C, without any intervention, n=15. At 1 month, 2 months and 6months after surgeries, the axillary lymph nodes of 5 mice in each group were dynamically examined by in vivo indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging respectively. The regenerated lymph nodes and relevant skin were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and the skin was quantitatively analyzed via immunofluorescence staining for lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1(LYVE-1) as well.

One month after surgery, the right regenerated axillary lymph nodes in group B (5/5) were visible by in vivo ICG fluorescence imaging, whereas the same signals were not detected in group A (0/5). The results were the same at 2 and 6 months after surgery. HE staining showed that the cortical, paracortical, and medullary regions of the right axillary lymph nodes of the experimental group B were clear, and the lymphatic vessel structure was present, accompanied by lymphocyte infiltration. Immunofluorescence staining of the right upper limb showed that the expression of LYVE-1 in the lymphatic endothelium of the B group was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.001) and the control group (both P<0.001).

Due to the promising consequence of regenerated lymph nodes, the procedure of autologous lymph nodes fragmentary transplantation combined with VEGF-C in athymic nude mice provides a reliable animal model for the next stage research.

Lymph nodes transplantation; Vascular endothelial growth factor-C; Animal model