title: Lymphatic collecting vessel maturation and valve morphogenesis.
abstract: The lymphatic vasculature plays an essential role in the maintenance of tissue interstitial fluid balance and in the immune response. After capture of fluids, proteins and antigens by lymphatic capillaries, lymphatic collecting vessels ensure lymph transport. An important component to avoid lymph backflow and to allow a unidirectional flow is the presence of intraluminal valves. Defects in the function of collecting vessels lead to lymphedema. Several important factors and signaling pathways involved in lymphatic collecting vessel maturation and valve morphogenesis have now been discovered. The present review summarizes the current knowledge about the key steps of lymphatic collecting vessel development and maturation and focuses on the regulatory mechanisms involved in lymphatic valve formation.
authors.affiliation: Inserm, U1036, Grenoble, F-38000 France, CEA, DSV, iRTSV, Laboratoire Biologie du Cancer et de l'Infection, Grenoble, F-38000 France, Univ Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, F-38000 France. Electronic address: daniel.vittet@cea.fr.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vittet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008209:Lymphedema; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
keywords: collecting vessels; lymphangiogenesis; lymphatic capillaries; lymphatic development; lymphatic endothelial cell; molecular mechanisms; smooth muscle cell