title: Lymphatic Vascular Regeneration: The Next Step in Tissue Engineering.
abstract: The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in interstitial fluid drainage, lipid absorption, and immunological defense. Lymphatic dysfunction results in lymphedema, fluid accumulation, and swelling of soft tissues, as well as a potentially impaired immune response. Lymphedema significantly reduces quality of life of patients on a physical, mental, social, and economic basis. Current therapeutic approaches in treatment of lymphatic disease are limited. Over the last decades, great progress has been made in the development of therapeutic strategies to enhance vascular regeneration. These solutions to treat vascular disease may also be applicable in the treatment of lymphatic diseases. Comparison of the organogenic process and biological organization of the vascular and lymphatic systems and studies in the regulatory mechanisms involved in lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis show many common features. In this study, we address the similarities between both transport systems, and focus in depth on the biology of lymphatic development. Based on the current advances in vascular regeneration, we propose different strategies for lymphatic tissue engineering that may be used for treatment of primary and secondary lymphedema.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, DIGD, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huethorst
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, DIGD, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Merle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Krebber
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, DIGD, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Joost O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Fledderus
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, DIGD, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gremmels
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, DIGD, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Yan Juan
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, DIGD, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Jiayi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, DIGD, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Marianne C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Verhaar
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, DIGD, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands .|2 Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter , Rotterdam, The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng