Lymphangiogenesis

{{Short description|Formation of lymphatic vessels from pre-existing vessels}}

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Lymphangiogenesis is the formation of lymphatic vessels from pre-existing lymphatic vessels{{cite journal |author1=Michael Jeltsch |author2=Tuomas Tammela |author3=Kari Alitalo |author4=Jörg Wilting | title=Genesis and pathogenesis of lymphatic vessels | year= 2003 | journal=Cell and Tissue Research | volume= 314 | issue=1 | pages=69–84 | doi=10.1007/s00441-003-0777-2|pmid=12942362 |s2cid=23318096 }} in a method believed to be similar to angiogenesis (blood vessel development).{{cite web |title=Lymphatic vasculature development |url=http://www.columbia.edu/itc/hs/medical/humandev/2009/HD18/Lymphatic.pdf |accessdate=17 December 2018}}

Lymphangiogenesis plays an important physiological role in homeostasis, metabolism and immunity. Impaired or excessive lymphatic vessel formation has been implicated in a number of pathological conditions including neoplasm metastasis,{{cite book|author=Steven A. Stacker|title=Lymphangiogenesis in Cancer Metastasis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oIIB9NIAwFoC&pg=PA27|accessdate=26 June 2010|date=1 July 2009|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-90-481-2246-2|pages=27–}} oedema, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lymphangiomatosis and impaired wound healing.

The role of the lymphatic system in these diseases has received renewed interest largely due to the discovery of lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC)-specific markers such as podoplanin, LYVE-1, PROX1, desmoplakin and VEGF-C receptor VEGFR-3.{{Cite journal|last1=Jha|first1=Sawan K.|last2=Rauniyar|first2=Khushbu|last3=Jeltsch|first3=Michael|date=2018|title=Key molecules in lymphatic development, function, and identification|journal=Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger|volume=219|pages=25–34|doi=10.1016/j.aanat.2018.05.003|pmid=29842991|doi-access=free}} These specific markers have enabled insights into functional and molecular lymphatic biology. There are several known pro-lymphangiogenesis inducers such as VEGF-C, hyaluronic acid and ephrin-B2.{{cn|date=November 2021}}