Search

Lymph vessels are essential for the maintenance of tissue fluid homeostasis and immune surveillance and are involved in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, such as lymphoedema, inflammation and tumour metastasis. The identification of lymphangiogenic growth factors and their receptor, and of transcription factors that control lymphangiogenesis, have provided significant insight into the biology of lymphatic vasculature. Another important advance has been the recent development of mouse, frog and fish models that allow the study of lymphangiogenesis and diseases affecting lymph vessels. In this review we discuss some of the major molecular players involved in regulation of lymphangiogenesis and lymph vessel remodelling, and the role of lymph vessels and their regulators in human disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]