title: Lymphangiogenesis in vitro: formation of lymphatic capillary-like channels from confluent monolayers of lymphatic endothelial cells.
abstract: Lymphatic endothelial cells grown long term in culture form lymphatic capillary-like tubes. Examination by light and transmission electron microscopy showed that these structures were closed loops composed of one to several cells connected by intercellular junction to form a luminal space. This first demonstration of lymphangiogenesis in confluent monolayer cultures of lymphatic endothelial cells (a) showed that collagen type I accelerated lymphatic capillary tube formation, whereas fibronectin and matrigel had no effect; b) provided a model to study lymphatic endothelial cell function and differentiation; and c) offered a possibility to distinguish differences between the process of lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis by testing various factors and conditions that effect endothelial cell behavior.
authors.affiliation: Ernest Everett Just Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Leak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen