In the present study, we demonstrated that CD11b+/Gr-1-/lo OCPs from joints of TNF-Tg mice produce high levels of the lymphatic growth factor, VEGF-C, and that joints from mice in two models of RA have increased numbers of lymphatic vessels and enlargement of draining popliteal lymph nodes. The gene discussed is ITGAM; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.