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 capillarylike 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: The Ernest Everett Just Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Howard University, Washington, DC.
authors: L V
authors: LV
authors: Leak
authors: Laboratory Animal Medicine and Surgery, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jones
keywords: extracellular matrix; lymphangiogenesis; lymphatic endothelium