Watching lymphatic vessels grow by making them glow

• 来源期刊: 细胞研究（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2012,（1）
• 页码范围: 12-13
• 页数: 2页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1038/cr.2011.191

摘要

A novel imaging technique for visualizing the growth of lymphatic vessels in the cornea is summarized.Comparison to existing lymphatic imaging approaches and perspectives for future research are described.Lymphatic vessels are critical for tissue homeostasis by draining excess fluid and macromolecules and for initiating an immune response.Lymphatic vessels also have key roles in a wide array of pathological conditions,including cancer,chronic inflammation,and transplant rejection.During the last 15 years there have been tremendous advances made in elucidating the major transcription factors and growth factors that are responsible for lymphatic vessel growth (lymphangiogenesis) and maintenance [ 1 ].As work is progressing to translate these discoveries into therapeutic approaches that can either promote or impede lymphatic vessel growth,there is an existing need for improved in vivo imaging techniques that can visualize the remodeling of these vessels.The use of such methods in conjunction with established models of lymphangiogenesis would allow noninvasive monitoring of novel pharmaceutical interventions,as well as providing further insights into the molecular mechanisms taking place.