CD4 and lymphedema: In particular, lipid accumulation throughout the body may impede lymphatic transport of fluids, in a process driven in part by chronic inflammatory responses.82 In a mouse model, lymphoedema in obese mice was found to impair lymphatic function, associated with increased subcutaneous adipose deposition, a higher frequency of CD45+ and CD4+ inflammatory cells, and fibrosis without any change in the number of lymphatic vessels.83