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Molecular control of lymphangiogenesis
Author(s) -
Baldwin Megan E.,
Stacker Steven A.,
Achen Marc G.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.10173
Subject(s) - lymphangiogenesis , lymphatic system , lymphatic vessel , vascular endothelial growth factor c , lymphatic endothelium , context (archaeology) , receptor tyrosine kinase , biology , vascular endothelial growth factor , cancer research , lymphedema , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , vegf receptors , signal transduction , vascular endothelial growth factor a , metastasis , cancer , genetics , paleontology , breast cancer
The lymphatic vasculature plays a critical role in the regulation of body fluid volume and immune function. Extensive research into the molecular mechanisms that control blood vessel growth has led to identification of molecules that also regulate development and growth of the lymphatic vessels. This is generating a great deal of interest in the molecular control of the lymphatics in the context of embryogenesis, lymphatic disorders and tumor metastasis. Studies in animal models carried out over the past three years have shown that the soluble protein growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C and VEGF‐D, and their cognate receptor tyrosine kinase, VEGF receptor‐3 (VEGFR‐3), are critical regulators of lymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, disfunction of VEGFR‐3 has recently been shown to cause lymphedema. The capacity to induce lymphangiogenesis by manipulation of the VEGF‐C/VEGF‐D/VEGFR‐3 signaling pathway offers new opportunities to understand the function of the lymphatic system and to develop novel treatments for lymphatic disorders. BioEssays 24:1030–1040, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Periodicals, Inc.