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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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A Murine Tail Lymphedema Model
Published on: February 10, 2021
Mucocele: a human model for lymphangiogenesis.
Eumenia Costa da Cunha Castro1, Csaba Galambos
1Department of Pediatric Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Summary
This study reveals that lymphangiogenesis, the formation of new lymphatic vessels, occurs during mucocele healing. Early lymphatic vessel formation and later regression were observed, suggesting a role in clearing extravasated material.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Wound Healing
- Tissue Regeneration
Background:
- Lymphangiogenesis mechanisms are poorly understood, with debate on its role in inflammatory responses to injury.
- Extravasated mucoceles offer a potential human model to study tissue repair processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of lymphangiogenesis in the tissue response of extravasated mucoceles.
- To analyze the presence, distribution, and proliferative activity of lymphatic vessels during mucocele healing.
Main Methods:
- Histological analysis of 23 mucoceles classified into early, intermediate, and late healing phases.
- Immunohistochemical staining using lymphatic endothelium-specific markers (VEGFR3, Prox-1, D2-40) and panendothelial marker (CD31).
- Assessment of lymphangiogenic signals (VEGFC) and lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation (Ki-67).
Main Results:
- Early mucocele lesions showed scattered lymphatic vessels, with less than half of lesional vessels being lymphatic.
- Intermediate lesions exhibited numerous newly formed lymphatic vessels, with a Ki-67 index of 4% indicating low-grade proliferation.
- Late lesions displayed regression of lymphatic vessels, while VEGFC expression was highest in the early phase.
Conclusions:
- Mucocele evolution demonstrates early lymphangiogenesis and late lymphatic vessel regression.
- Newly formed lymphatic vessels in intermediate lesions may aid in clearing extravasated material and initiating granulation tissue formation.
- Extravasated mucoceles serve as a valuable human model for studying lymphangiogenesis and regression.
