AUTHOR=Feng Jian , Ren Yuanzhen , Wang Xilin , Li Xiaojing , Zhu Xingguo , Zhang Baokai , Zhao Qi , Sun Xiaochen , Tian Xinxin , Liu Hongyang , Dong Fan , Li Xiu-Li , Qi Linlin , Wei Bin 

TITLE=Impaired meningeal lymphatic drainage in Listeria monocytogenes infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1382971

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2024.1382971

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Previous studies have demonstrated an association between lymphatic vessels and diseases caused by bacterial infections. <italic>Listeria monocytogenes</italic> (LM) bacterial infection can affect multiple organs, including the intestine, brain, liver and spleen, which can be fatal. However, the impacts of LM infection on morphological and functional changes of lymphatic vessels remain unexplored. In this study, we found that LM infection not only induces meningeal and mesenteric lymphangiogenesis in mice, but also impairs meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLVs)-mediated macromolecules drainage. Interestingly, we found that the genes associated with lymphatic vessel development and function, such as <italic>Gata2</italic> and <italic>Foxc2</italic>, were downregulated, suggesting that LM infection may affect cellular polarization and valve development. On the other hand, photodynamic ablation of MLVs exacerbated inflammation and bacterial load in the brain of mice with LM infection. Overall, our findings indicate that LM infection induces lymphangiogenesis and may affect cell polarization, cavity formation, and valve development during lymphangiogenesis, ultimately impairing MLVs drainage.</p>