INTRODUCTION Lymphoedema results from impaired lymphatic transport leading to the pathologic accumulation of protein-rich lymphatic fluid in the interstitial space, most commonly in the extremities. Primary lymphoedema, a developmental abnormality of the lymphatic system, may become evident later in life when a triggering event exceeds the capacity of normal lymphatic flow. CLINICAL PICTURE W...

Lymphatic vessels have been traditionally considered as passive transporters of lipids particularly from the intestine. However, it became apparent from emerging research that lymphatic vessel can play a more extensive role in lipid metabolism than previously realized. Moreover, recent evidence reveal that lipid deposition in the form of white adipose tissue or cholesterol as observed in obesit...

FOXC2 mutations cause the lymphatic/ocular disorder Lymphedema-Distichiasis (LD), and Foxc2 haploinsufficient mice mimic this disorder. To determine if FOXC2 overexpression might also cause lymphatic and/or ocular abnormalities, we performed dynamic lymphatic imaging (Evans blue dye), ocular tissue examination, and metabolic profiles in mice: transgenic for FOXC2 with an adipocyte (aP2) promote...

Intestinal polypoid lymphangiectasia is an uncommon disorder involving improperly formed enteric lymphatic system. It characterized by vessel dilatation with impaired drainage or obstruction of the lymph from intestine. In this report, we present a case 73-year-old male patient chronic intermittent left lower quadrant abdominal pain for one year who was found to have sigmoid colon polyp on colo...

Fluid shear forces have established roles in blood vascular development and function, but whether such forces similarly influence the low-flow lymphatic system is unknown. It has been difficult to test the contribution of fluid forces in vivo because mechanical or genetic perturbations that alter flow often have direct effects on vessel growth. Here, we investigated the functional role of flow ...

The brain has traditionally been considered an immune privileged organ, in part due to the lack of evidence for lymphatic vasculature (Galea et al., 2007). Two centuries ago, the existence of lymphatic vessels on the surface of the human brain was proposed but it has since been widely dismissed (Lukic et al., 2003). Therefore, while T cells leave all other organs via the lymphatic system to rea...

BACKGROUND Lymphangiogenesis is a highly regulated process involved in the pathogenesis of disease. Current in vivo models to assess lymphangiogenesis are largely unphysiologic. The zebrafish is a powerful model system for studying development, due to its rapid growth and transparency during early stages of life. Identification of a network of trunk lymphatic capillaries in zebrafish provides a...

Lymphoedema (LOE) is an under-diagnosed condition which can cause severe incapacitating swelling of the extremities. Misdiagnosis and/or delayed diagnosis are common and the goal of further evaluation is to confirm the cause and determine the type and site of lymphatic obstruction. Lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) is a minimally invasive way of evaluation of the lymphatic system and can be used in the ...

Lymphatic vasculature plays a crucial role in the immune response, enabling transport of dendritic cells (DCs) and antigens (Ags) into the lymph nodes. Unfortunately, the lymphatic system has also a negative role in the progression of cancer diseases, by facilitating the metastatic spread of many carcinomas to the draining lymph nodes. The lymphatics can promote antitumor immune response as wel...

Lymphangioma circumscriptum is a congenital lymphatic malformation that results in gradual dilatation of lymphatic vessels and development of lymphatic cisterns. The treatment of choice is radical surgery. Other treatment methods including cryotherapy, sclerosing agent injections, radiation therapy and CO2 laser were suggested. We report successful treatment of a 14-year-old boy affected with l...