The homeobox transcription factor PROX1 is the mammalian ortholog of the Drosophila gene Prospero. Expression of PROX1 in a subset of venous endothelial cells changes their fate to lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC). PROX1 is required for lymphatic development as Prox1 null mice lack all lymphatic vasculature. PROX1 has been shown to have cell-type dependent roles in regulating the cell cycle. We hypothesize that PROX1 functions as a key cell cycle regulator in LECs and promotes their cell cycle progression. In this study, immunocytochemistry, western blotting and luciferase assays were used to characterize PROX1 mediated activation of the mouse Ccne1 promoter. Following deletion of the Prospero 1 domain (PD1∆), the resulting PROX1 protein is localized to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. We have determined that PROX1 requires both E2F binding sites located in the Ccne1 promoter to activate transcription of the gene. We observed that siRNA knockdown of Prox1 reduced CYCLIN E1 protein levels as well as decreased cellular proliferation in LECs. In contrast, overexpression of a version of PROX1 in which the homeodomain and Prospero domain 2 (HDPD2Δ) were deleted increased CYCLIN E1 protein levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), but resulted in the arrest of cells in the G1 phase. We have also established that PROX1 is phosphorylated in primary human LECs. We have shown a role for the PD1 domain in mediating PROX1 subcellular localization and we have observed that the expression of the HDPD2Δ version of PROX1 blocks proliferation in HUVECs. We are the first to demonstrate a role for PROX1 as a transcriptional co-activator and to establish that PROX1 is phosphorylated in LECs.

The homeobox transcription factor PROX1 is the mammalian ortholog of the Drosophila gene Prospero. Expression of PROX1 in a subset of venous endothelial cells changes their fate to lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC). PROX1 is required for lymphatic development as Prox1 null mice lack all lymphatic vasculature. PROX1 has been shown to have cell-type dependent roles in regulating the cell cycle. We hypothesize that PROX1 functions as a key cell cycle regulator in LECs and promotes their cell cycle progression. In this study, immunocytochemistry, western blotting and luciferase assays were used to characterize PROX1 mediated activation of the mouse Ccne1 promoter. Following deletion of the Prospero 1 domain (PD1∆), the resulting PROX1 protein is localized to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. We have determined that PROX1 requires both E2F binding sites located in the Ccne1 promoter to activate transcription of the gene. We observed that siRNA knockdown of Prox1 reduced CYCLIN E1 protein levels as well as decreased cellular proliferation in LECs. In contrast, overexpression of a version of PROX1 in which the homeodomain and Prospero domain 2 (HDPD2Δ) were deleted increased CYCLIN E1 protein levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), but resulted in the arrest of cells in the G1 phase. We have also established that PROX1 is phosphorylated in primary human LECs. We have shown a role for the PD1 domain in mediating PROX1 subcellular localization and we have observed that the expression of the HDPD2Δ version of PROX1 blocks proliferation in HUVECs. We are the first to demonstrate a role for PROX1 as a transcriptional co-activator and to establish that PROX1 is phosphorylated in LECs.

The lymphatic system plays an important role in fluid and protein balance within the interstitial spaces. Its dysfunction could result in a number of debilitating diseases, namely lymphedema. Lymphatic vessels utilize both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms to pump lymph. Intrinsic pumping involves the active contraction of vessels, a phenomenon that is regulated in part by nitric oxide (NO) produced by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). NO production by arterial endothelial cells has been shown to be sensitive to both shear stress and stretch. Therefore, because of the unique mechanical environment of the LECs, we hypothesize that mechanical forces play an important role in regulation of the lymphatic pumping. Parallel-plate flow chambers and indenter-based cyclic stretch devices were constructed and used to apply mechanical loads to LECs. In addition, high-throughput micro-scale channels were developed and tested for shear experiments to address the need to increase the productivity and high- resolution imaging. Twenty-four hours treatment of LECs with different shear stress conditions showed a shear-dependent elevation in NO production. Moreover, 2.5 folds increase in cumulative NO was observed for stretched cells compared to the unstretched cells over six hours period. In conclusion, the upregulation observed in NO production under mechanical stimuli suggest new regulatory mechanisms that can be pharmaceutically targeted. These results provide an unprecedented insight into lymphatic pumping mechanism.

Non-hematopoietic stromal cells (SCs) promote and regulate adaptive immunity through numerous direct and indirect mechanisms. SCs construct and support the secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) in which lymphocytes crawl on stromal networks and inspect antigen-presenting cells for surface-display of cognate antigens. SCs also secrete survival factors and chemotactic cues that recruit, organize, and facilitate interactions among these leukocytes. They influence antigen access by secreting and ensheathing extracellular matrix-based conduit networks that rapidly convey small, soluble lymph-borne molecules to the SLO core. Furthermore, lymph node stromal cells (LNSCs) directly induce \(CD8^+\) T cell tolerance to peripheral tissue restricted antigens and constrain the proliferation of newly activated T cells in these sites. Thus, stromal-hematopoietic interactions are crucial for the normal functioning of the immune system. LNSCs are extremely rare and difficult to isolate, hampering the thorough study of their biology. In order to better understand these stromal subsets, we sorted fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs), lymphatic endothelial cells, blood endothelial cells, and podoplanin \(^−CD31^−\) cells (double negative stromal cells; DNCs) to high purity from resting and inflamed murine lymph nodes. We meticulously analyzed the transcriptional profiles of these freshly isolated LNSCs as part of the Immunological Genome Project Consortium. Analysis of the transcriptional profiles of these LNSC subsets indicated that SCs express key immune mediators and growth factors, and provided important insights into the lymph node conduit network, FRC-specialization, and the DNC identity. Examination of hematopoietic and stromal transcription of ligands and cognate receptors suggested complex crosstalk among these populations. Interestingly, FRCs dominated cytokine and chemokine transcription among LNSCs, and were also enriched for higher expression of these genes when compared with skin and thymic fibroblasts, consistent with FRC-specialization. LNSCs that were isolated from inflamed lymph nodes robustly upregulated expression of genes encoding cytokines, chemokines, antigen-processing and presentation machinery, and acute-phase response molecules. Little-explored DNCs showed many transcriptional similarities to FRCs, but importantly did not transcribe interleukin-7. We identified DNCs as consisting largely of myofibroblastic pericytes that express integrin \(\alpha 7\). Together these data comprehensively describe the transcriptional characteristics of four major LNSC subsets isolated from resting and inflamed SLOs, offering many avenues for future study.