A vicious circle in chronic lymphoedema pathophysiology? An adipocentric view

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

  • F Cucchi
  • L Rossmeislova
  • L Simonsen
  • Mads Radmer Jensen
  • J Bülow

Chronic lymphoedema is a disease caused by a congenital or acquired damage to the lymphatic system and characterized by complex chains of pathophysiologic events such as lymphatic fluid stasis, chronic inflammation, lymphatic vessels impairment, adipose tissue deposition and fibrosis. These events seem to maintain and reinforce themselves through a positive feedback loop: regardless of the initial cause of lymphatic stasis, the dysfunctional adipose tissue and its secretion products can worsen lymphatic vessels' function, aggravating lymph leakage and stagnation, which can promote further adipose tissue deposition and fibrosis, similar to what may happen in obesity. In addition to the current knowledge about the tight and ancestral interrelation between immunity system and metabolism, there is evidence for similarities between obesity-related and lymphatic damage-induced lymphoedema. Together, these observations indicate strong reciprocal relationship between lymphatics and adipose tissue and suggest a possible key role of the adipocyte in the pathophysiology of chronic lymphoedema's vicious circle.

Original languageEnglish
JournalObesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
Volume18
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)1159-1169
ISSN1467-7881
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2017

ID: 193592950