Lymphatic Vessels and Fat
Event details
| Date | 23.09.2013 |
| Hour | 11:00 |
| Speaker |
Prof. Gwendalyn J. Randolph, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (USA) Bio: My laboratory’s research integrates the study of monocytes, monocyte-derived cells, and dendritic cells with vascular and lymphatic vessel biology. We have pioneered assays to study migration of these immune cells to lymph nodes in various tissues. We have also developed assays to study the differentiation and migration of human monocytes and dendritic cells across vascular and lymphatic barriers. Current studies examine the recruitment of monocytes to sites of acute and chronic inflammation (e.g., atherosclerotic plaques) and then follow the fate of these cells thereafter. Through our studies on the migration of monocyte-derived dendritic cells and other dendritic cells through lymphatic vessels, we have also taken a keen interest in the functional properties of lymphatic vessels and the adipose tissue that surrounds them. We are thus branching out to explore crosstalk between immune cells and lymphatics and how these interactions might affect lymphatic function, immune and inflammatory responses, and adipose tissue. |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
DISTINGUISHED LECTURE IN BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Lymphatic vessels have a well-established role in fat transport, particularly from the intestine, as all long chain fatty acids and cholesterol are absorbed only via the lymphatic vasculature. Recently, my laboratory expounded upon this paradigm to ask whether lymphatic vessels were also critical to export of fats from other tissues. We found that cholesterol removal from many tissues, including atherosclerotic plaques, was dependentupon the lymphatic vasculature. This finding has important implications forstrategies related to the progression and treatment of atherosclerosis. Lymphatic vessels draining the aorta run through aortic adipose tissue. We have taken a special interest in the biological scenarios in which fat depots and lymphatic vessels co-localize and affect each other. This seminar will discuss frontiers in lymphatic vessel and adipose tissue crosstalk, including the role of lymphatic vessels and peri-aortic fat in cardiovascular disease, the possible role of lymphatic vessel – adipose tissue crosstalk in immune responses carried out in lymph nodes, and the connections between “creeping fat” and the lymphatic vasculature in inflammatory bowel disease. Data from mouse and human studies will be presented. The work discussed is expected to appeal to those interested in vascular and lymphatic biology, immunology, and metabolism.
Lymphatic vessels have a well-established role in fat transport, particularly from the intestine, as all long chain fatty acids and cholesterol are absorbed only via the lymphatic vasculature. Recently, my laboratory expounded upon this paradigm to ask whether lymphatic vessels were also critical to export of fats from other tissues. We found that cholesterol removal from many tissues, including atherosclerotic plaques, was dependentupon the lymphatic vasculature. This finding has important implications forstrategies related to the progression and treatment of atherosclerosis. Lymphatic vessels draining the aorta run through aortic adipose tissue. We have taken a special interest in the biological scenarios in which fat depots and lymphatic vessels co-localize and affect each other. This seminar will discuss frontiers in lymphatic vessel and adipose tissue crosstalk, including the role of lymphatic vessels and peri-aortic fat in cardiovascular disease, the possible role of lymphatic vessel – adipose tissue crosstalk in immune responses carried out in lymph nodes, and the connections between “creeping fat” and the lymphatic vasculature in inflammatory bowel disease. Data from mouse and human studies will be presented. The work discussed is expected to appeal to those interested in vascular and lymphatic biology, immunology, and metabolism.
Links
Practical information
- Informed public
- Free
- This event is internal
Organizer
- Prof. Melody Swartz