BACKGROUND Blood and lymphatic vessel networks form two arms of the vertebrate
cardiovascular system that play complementary roles in body homeostasis maintenance and …

Blood vessels form a closed circulatory system, whereas lymphatic vessels form a one-way
conduit for tissue fluid and leukocytes. In most vertebrates, the main function of lymphatic …

The lymphatic vasculature is an integral component of the immune system. Lymphatic
vessels are a key highway via which immune cells are trafficked, serving not simply as a …

Lymphatic vessels constitute a ubiquitous countercurrent system to the blood vasculature
that returns interstitial fluid, salts, small molecules, resorbed fat, and cells to the bloodstream …

Mammals have two specialized vascular circulatory systems: the blood vasculature and the
lymphatic vasculature. The lymphatic vasculature is a unidirectional conduit that returns …

Recent discoveries of novel functions and diverse origins of lymphatic vessels have
drastically changed our view of lymphatic vasculature. Traditionally regarded as passive …

Secondary lymphoid organs, such as lymph nodes, harbor highly specialized and
compartmentalized niches. These niches are optimized to facilitate the encounter of naive …

The lymphatic vasculature plays vital roles in tissue fluid balance, immune defense,
metabolism, and cancer metastasis. In adults, lymphatic vessel formation and remodeling …

Lymphangiogenesis refers to the generation of new lymphatic vessels from pre-existing
ones. During development and particular adult states, lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) …

Lymphatic vessels in the tumor microenvironment are known to foster tumor metastasis in
many cancers, and they can undergo activation, hyperplasia, and lymphangiogenesis in the …