Cellular composition of lymph in experimental lymphedema.

Lymph cell populations were characterized immunologically in dogs with chronic post-surgical lymphedema. There was a 10- to 30-fold increase in lymph total cell count as compared with normal (control) dogs. Morphologically, these were predominantly small lymphocytes with approximately 4-6% monocytes and veiled cells. In contrast, lymph from normal dogs contained 33% granulocytes and 27% monocytes. The Fc-R+ and C3b-R+ mononuclear nonadherent cells were less represented in lymph in chronic stasis than in normals. A high autotransformation rate of lymph cells and marked responsiveness to PHA and Con A were also observed. In chronic lymphedema K-cell and NK-cell cytotoxicity were lower than in normal lymph. Interruption or retardation of the lymphocyte recirculation pathway with lymph stasis may alter regulation of immune responsiveness in lymphedematous tissue.