2024-01-26 韓国基礎科学研究院(IBS)
◆研究では、遺伝子組み換えマウスと高度な画像技術を使用し、鼻の奥に存在するリンパ管がCSFの排出に関与していることを詳細に解明しました。これにより、神経変性疾患の進行を改善するための治療法の開発に向けた新たな糸口が得られる可能性が示唆されています。
<関連情報>
- https://www.ibs.re.kr/cop/bbs/BBSMSTR_000000000738/selectBoardArticle.do
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06899-4
鼻咽頭リンパ叢は脳脊髄液排出のハブである Nasopharyngeal lymphatic plexus is a hub for cerebrospinal fluid drainage
Jin-Hui Yoon,Hokyung Jin,Hae Jin Kim,Seon Pyo Hong,Myung Jin Yang,Ji Hoon Ahn,Young-Chan Kim,Jincheol Seo,Yongjeon Lee,Donald M. McDonald,Michael J. Davis & Gou Young Koh
Nature Published:10 January 2024
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06899-4
Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the subarachnoid space around the brain has long been known to drain through the lymphatics to cervical lymph nodes, but the connections and regulation have been challenging to identify. Here, using fluorescent CSF tracers in Prox1-GFP lymphatic reporter mice, we found that the nasopharyngeal lymphatic plexus is a major hub for CSF outflow to deep cervical lymph nodes. This plexus had unusual valves and short lymphangions but no smooth-muscle coverage, whereas downstream deep cervical lymphatics had typical semilunar valves, long lymphangions and smooth muscle coverage that transported CSF to the deep cervical lymph nodes. α-Adrenergic and nitric oxide signalling in the smooth muscle cells regulated CSF drainage through the transport properties of deep cervical lymphatics. During ageing, the nasopharyngeal lymphatic plexus atrophied, but deep cervical lymphatics were not similarly altered, and CSF outflow could still be increased by adrenergic or nitric oxide signalling. Single-cell analysis of gene expression in lymphatic endothelial cells of the nasopharyngeal plexus of aged mice revealed increased type I interferon signalling and other inflammatory cytokines. The importance of evidence for the nasopharyngeal lymphatic plexus functioning as a CSF outflow hub is highlighted by its regression during ageing. Yet, the ageing-resistant pharmacological activation of deep cervical lymphatic transport towards lymph nodes can still increase CSF outflow, offering an approach for augmenting CSF clearance in age-related neurological conditions in which greater efflux would be beneficial.
