With age, the normal tissue in lymph nodes gradually turns into adipose tissue. Experts call this lymph node lipomatosis. Although lipomatosis is very common, little research has been done on the phenomenon. A study of more than 200 lymph nodes now shows that certain connective tissue cells in the central part of the lymph nodes tend to turn into fat cells.
This soon impairs the immune defenses in the lymph nodes, because blood and lymphatic vessels, through which immune cells migrate in and out of the lymph nodes, are lost in the areas where fat has built up. Thus, already in the early stages, lipomatosis of lymph nodes can be the reason for a poorer response to vaccinations, which is often observed in the elderly. Gradually, the fatty tissue completely takes over the lymph node, so that it loses its ability to function.
“Our study is a first step in understanding the occurrence of lipomatosis and in finding ways to prevent the progressive destruction of the lymph nodes,” said Tove Bekkhus from Uppsala University. The findings could also be relevant to cancer research, as lymph nodes are the first place cancer cells spread to in several types of cancer.
Which: DOI 10.1002/path.6030