Protocol Dissection of murine collecting lymphatic vessels for imaging, single-cell analysis, and tissue culture of lymphatic muscle cells

Summary: By performing single-cell RNA sequencing on TNF-Tg lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) in popliteal lymphatic vessels (PLVs) efferent to inflamed joints, researchers identified altered gene expression and enhanced functional genomics in smooth muscle cell populations. This study supports the potential role of mesenchymal stromal cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory-erosive arthritis and highlights the need for further investigation into the effects of the TNF-altered transcriptome on PLV function and joint homeostasis.