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Lymphatic pump treatment augments lymphatic flux of lymphocytes in rats.
- Source :
-
Lymphatic research and biology [Lymphat Res Biol] 2010 Dec; Vol. 8 (4), pp. 183-7. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Background: Lymphatic pump techniques (LPT) are used by osteopathic practitioners for the treatment of edema and infection; however, the mechanisms by which LPT enhances the lymphatic and immune systems are poorly understood.<br />Methods and Results: To measure the effect of LPT on the rat, the cisterna chyli (CC) of 10 rats were cannulated and lymph was collected during 4 min of 1) pre-LPT baseline, 2) 4 min LPT, and 3) 10 min post-LPT recovery. LPT increased significantly (p < 0.05) lymph flow from a baseline of 24 ± 5 μl/min to 89 ± 30 μl/min. The baseline CC lymphocyte flux was 0.65 ± 0.21 × 10⁶ lymphocytes/min, and LPT increased CC lymphocyte flux to 6.10 ± 0.99 × 10⁶ lymphocytes/min (p < 0.01). LPT had no preferential effect on any lymphocyte population, since total lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cell numbers were similarly increased. To determine if LPT mobilized gut-associated lymphocytes into the CC lymph, gut-associated lymphocytes in the CC lymph were identified by staining CC lymphocytes for the gut homing receptor integrin α4β7. LPT significantly increased (p < 0.01) the flux of α4β7 positive CC lymphocytes from a baseline of 0.70 ± 0.03 × 10⁵ lymphocytes/min to 6.50 ± 0.10 × 10⁵ lymphocytes/min during LPT. Finally, lymphocyte flux during recovery was similar to baseline, indicating the effects of LPT are transient.<br />Conclusions: Collectively, these results suggest that LPT may enhance immune surveillance by increasing the numbers of lymphocytes released in to lymphatic circulation, especially from the gut associated lymphoid tissue. The rat provides a useful model to further investigate the effect of LPT on the lymphatic and immune systems.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1557-8585
- Volume :
- 8
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Lymphatic research and biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21190489
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1089/lrb.2010.0009