Lymph vessels on a chip reveal possible new drug target for lymphedema

Lymph vessels on a chip reveal possible new drug target for lymphedema

4 years ago
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http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/12/lymph-vessels-chip-reveal-possible-new-drug-target-lymphedema

Scientists have identified a new potential drug target for lymphedema, a painful swelling condition often caused by surgery or radiation treatments.

WASHINGTON, D.C. —There’s no real cure for lymphedema, a painful accumulation of fluid in the arms and legs that afflicts more than 150 million people worldwide. Compression garments and anti-inflammatory drugs can ease the swelling, and electric pumps can push the fluid along, but neither provides a long-lasting solution. Now, researchers have found that a chemical similar to some glaucoma medicines alleviates symptoms of lymphedema in mice by targeting a specific protein, suggesting a new approach to treating the disease.