Current views on the function of the lymphatic vasculature in health and disease
- Department of Genetics and Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
Abstract
The lymphatic vascular system is essential for lipid absorption, fluid homeostasis, and immune surveillance. Until recently, lymphatic vessel dysfunction had been associated with symptomatic pathologic conditions such as lymphedema. Work in the last few years had led to a better understanding of the functional roles of this vascular system in health and disease. Furthermore, recent work has also unraveled additional functional roles of the lymphatic vasculature in fat metabolism, obesity, inflammation, and the regulation of salt storage in hypertension. In this review, we summarize the functional roles of the lymphatic vasculature in health and disease.
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↵1 Corresponding author.
E-MAIL guillermo.oliver{at}stjude.org; FAX (901) 595-6035.
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Article is online at http://www.genesdev.org/cgi/doi/10.1101/gad.1955910.
- Copyright © 2010 by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press