Metastatic Cancer and Immune Cells Traffic to Lymph Nodes (LNs) via Draining Lymphatic Vessels, Both of Which Remodel in States of Inflammation
(A) Invasive cancer cells and immune cells enter the local lymphatic drainage basin to gain access to and invade draining LNs. Blue arrows: directions of fluid drainage. Black arrows: potential metastatic cancer cell paths of invasion.
(B) Image of LN second harmonic (collagen). Scale bar, 400 μm.
(C) In tumor contexts or in states of inflammation, LNs remodel, a process that can include the dilation of the subcapsular sinus (SCS) and afferent lymphatic vessel (lymphatic vessel diameter, LVD) and alter adhesion molecule expression by sinus lining cells.
(D) Second harmonic images of quiescent (tumor-free) and LNs draining day 7 B16F10 tumor (tumor-draining). Red: SCS height measurements. Scale bars, 150 μm.
(E and F) Immunohistochemical staining for Lyve-1 (red), E-selectin (green), and either ICAM (E) or VCAM (F) (blue) within 8-μm thick sections of a quiescent (left) murine LN or LN draining day 7 B16F10 tumor (right). Scale bars, 400 (i) or 150 (ii) μm.