Regulation of lymphatic function and injury by nitrosative stress in obese mice

•Increased iNOS+ cells around mesenteric lymphatics of high fat diet-induced obese mice.•iNOS knockout mice are protected from obesity-induced lymphatic dysfunction.•Lymphatic endothelial cells are highly sensitive to nitrosative stress.•Nitrosative stress causes lymphatic gene regulation.•Lymphatic injury alone enhances iNOS+ cells and causes insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.