Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacotherapy with Ketoprofen Ameliorates Experimental Lymphatic Vascular Insufficiency in Mice
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Disruption of the lymphatic vasculature causes edema, inflammation, and end-tissue destruction. To assess the therapeutic efficacy of systemic anti-inflammatory therapy in this disease, we examined the impact of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ketoprofen, and of a soluble TNF-alpha receptor (sTNF-R1) upon tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha activity in a mouse model of acquired lymphedema. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Lymphedema was induced by microsurgical ablation of major lymphatic conduits in the murine tail. Untreated control mice with lymphedema developed significant edema and extensive histopathological inflammation compared to sham surgical controls. Short-term ketoprofen treatment reduced tail edema and normalized the histopathology while paradoxically increasing TNF-alpha gene expression and cytokine levels. Conversely, sTNF-R1 treatment increased tail volume, exacerbated the histopathology, and decreased TNF-alpha gene expression. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), which stimulates lymphangiogenesis, closely correlated with TNF-alpha expression. CONCLUSIONS: Ketoprofen therapy reduces experimental post-surgical lymphedema, yet direct TNF-alpha inhibition does not. Reducing inflammation while preserving TNF-alpha activity appears to optimize the repair response. It is possible that the observed favorable responses, at least in part, are mediated through enhanced VEGF-C signaling.
Source: PLoS ONE
Authors: Kenta Nakamura, Kavita Radhakrishnan, Yat Man Wong, Stanley G. Rockson
Institutions: Stanford Medicine, Stanford University
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,382
OpenAlex ID: W1988070199