Heterozygous mutation of Vegfr3 decreases renal lymphatics but is dispensable for renal function

Abstract

BackgroundLymphatic abnormalities are observed in several types of kidney disease, but the relationship between the renal lymphatic system and renal function is unclear. The discovery of lymphatic-specific proteins, advances in microscopy, and available genetic mouse models provide the tools to help elucidate the role of renal lymphatics in physiology and disease. MethodsWe utilized a mouse model containing a missense mutation in Vegfr3 (dubbed Chy) that abrogates its kinase ability. Vegfr3Chy/+ mice were examined for developmental abnormalities and kidney-specific outcomes. Control and Vegfr3Chy/+ mice were subjected to cisplatin-mediated injury. We characterized renal lymphatics using a combination of tissue clearing, light-sheet microscopy and computational analyses. ResultsIn the kidney, we found Vegfr3 is expressed not only in lymphatic vessels, but also various blood vessels. Vegfr3Chy/+ mice had severely reduced renal lymphatics with 100% penetrance, but we found no abnormalities in blood pressure, renal function and histology. Similarly, there was no difference in the degree of renal injury after cisplatin, although Vegfr3Chy/+ mice developed more perivascular inflammation by histology. Control mice treated with cisplatin had a measurable increase in cortical lymphatic density despite no change in cortical lymphatic volume and length. ConclusionsWe demonstrate that Vegfr3 is required for development of renal lymphatics, but a reduction in lymphatic density does not alter renal function and induces only modest histological changes after injury. Our data suggests that an increase in lymphatic density after cisplatin injury may reflect the loss of cortical volume associated with chronic kidney disease rather than growth of lymphatic vessels. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDefects in renal lymphatics occur in various kidney diseases, but their role in maintaining kidney structure and function is unknown. We combine tissue clearing, light-sheet microscopy and computational analysis to characterize lymphatics and find that mice with a heterozygous mutation in Vegfr3 (Vegfr3Chy/+) have severely reduced renal lymphatics. Strikingly, these mice have indistinguishable renal function and histology compared with controls. Even after cisplatin injury, there are no differences in renal function, although Vegfr3Chy/+ mice developed more perivascular inflammation. Our data present a novel method of lymphatic quantification and suggest that a normal complement of renal lymphatics is dispensable for renal structure and function.