Platelet extracellular vesicles preserve lymphatic endothelial cell integrity and enhance lymphatic vessel function.

Aug 12, 2024

Experts: Laurent Vachon,Gabriel Jean,Andreea Milasan,Sara Babran,Elizabeth Lacroix,Dainelys Guadarrama Bello,Louis Villeneuve,Janusz Rak,Antonio Nanci,Teodora Mihalache-Avram,Jean-Claude Tardif,Vincent Finnerty,Matthieu Ruiz,Eric Boilard,Nolwenn Tessier,Catherine Martel

Lymphatic vessels are essential for preventing the accumulation of harmful components within peripheral tissues, including the artery wall. Various endogenous mechanisms maintain adequate lymphatic function throughout life, with platelets being essential for preserving lymphatic vessel integrity. However, since lymph lacks platelets, their impact on the lymphatic system has long been viewed as restricted to areas where lymphatics intersect with blood vessels. Nevertheless, platelets can also exert long range effects through the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) upon activation. We observed that platelet EVs (PEVs) are present in lymph, a compartment to which they could transfer regulatory effects of platelets. Here, we report that PEVs in lymph exhibit a distinct signature enabling them to interact with lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). In vitro experiments show that the internalization of PEVs by LECs maintains their functional integrity. Treatment with PEVs improves lymphatic contraction capacity in atherosclerosis-prone mice. We suggest that boosting lymphatic pumping with exogenous PEVs offers a novel therapeutic approach for chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by defective lymphatics.
© 2024. The Author(s).

Author

admin

View all posts

ABOUT THE EXPERTS

Laurent Vachon,Gabriel Jean,Andreea Milasan,Sara Babran,Elizabeth Lacroix,Dainelys Guadarrama Bello,Louis Villeneuve,Janusz Rak,Antonio Nanci,Teodora Mihalache-Avram,Jean-Claude Tardif,Vincent Finnerty,Matthieu Ruiz,Eric Boilard,Nolwenn Tessier,Catherine Martel

Laurent Vachon

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Gabriel Jean

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Andreea Milasan

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Sara Babran

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Elizabeth Lacroix

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Dainelys Guadarrama Bello

Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Louis Villeneuve

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Janusz Rak

McGill University and Research, Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.

Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Antonio Nanci

Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Teodora Mihalache-Avram

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Jean-Claude Tardif

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Vincent Finnerty

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Matthieu Ruiz

Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Heart Institute, Metabolomics platform, Montreal, Canada.

Eric Boilard

Centre de Recherche ARThrite – Arthrite, Recherche, Traitements, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.

Infectious and Immune Diseases Axis, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.

Nolwenn Tessier

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.

Catherine Martel

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. catherine.martel@icm-mhi.org.

Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada. catherine.martel@icm-mhi.org.