title: Interactions of immune cells and lymphatic vessels.
abstract: In addition to fluid and lipid absorption, immune cell trafficking has now become recognized as one of the major functions of the lymphatic system. Recently, several critical roles of the lymphatic vessels (LVs) in modulating immune reactions during both physiological and pathological conditions have been emerging. As LVs serve as conduits for immune cells, they come to closely interact with macrophages/monocytes, dendritic cells, and T and B lymphocytes. Accumulating evidences indicate that reciprocal interactions between the LVs and immune cells exist which cause considerable influence over the process of immune cell migration, LV growth, and ultimately certain immune reactions. This chapter discusses on the interactions of macrophages/monocytes and dendritic cells with peripheral LVs and on those of sinusoidal macrophages and T and B lymphocytes with lymph node LVs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Stem Cells, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 373-1, Guseong-dong, Daejeon, 305-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Raghu P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kataru
authors.forename: Yulia G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gou Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000502:physiology*