Fig. 5: Restoration of lymphatic flow in LD mice after the transplantation of CeLyTs.

a In vivo fluorescence imaging after the injection of ICG to footpads of normal (no treatment) or LD mice after cell transplantation. LD mice had their inguinal and popliteal lymph nodes removed. Bioengineered tissues were transplanted to the site of the removed popliteal lymph nodes. b In vivo bioluminescence imaging of hLEC+mMSC/Nluc tissue and suspended mMSC/Nluc in LD mice after transplantation. c Formation of a lymph node-like structure 21 days after the transplantation of hLEC+mMSC tissues in LD mice. Arrow, a formed lymph node-like structure. d In vivo fluorescence imaging after the injection of ICG to footpads of hLEC+mMSC tissue-transplanted LD mice. Arrow, site of ICG influx into the formed lymph node-like structure. e Ex vivo imaging of a lymph node or lymph node-like structure after ICG administration to normal mice (+ICG), hLEC+mMSC tissue-transplanted mice, and hLEC+hMSC tissue-transplanted LD mice (day 21). f Sum intensity of region of interest (ROI) signals quantified from in vivo fluorescence imaging (Fig. 5e). Data represent the mean ± standard deviation from 3 independent experiments, and P-values were determined by two-sided Dunnett’s test. *P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for the No treatment group. g Fluorescent intensity of excised and homogenized lymph nodes or lymph node-like structures after ICG administration. Data represent the mean ± standard deviation from 3 independent experiments, and two-sided Dunnett’s test determined P-values. *P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for the No treatment group.