The lymphatic vascular system mediates fluid homeostasis, immune defense, and tumor metastasis. Only a handful of genes are known to affect the development of the lymphatic vasculature, and even fewer represent therapeutic targets for lymphatic diseases. Adrenomedullin (AM) is a multifunctional peptide vasodilator that transduces its effects through the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (calcrl...

Background—Emerging evidence has suggested a contribution of bone marrow (BM) cells to lymphatic vessel formation; however, the exact phenotype of the cells with lymphatic endothelial progenitor cell function has yet to be identified. Here, we investigate the identity of BM-derived lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells and their role in lymphatic neovascularization. Methods and Results—Culture...

Blood vessels in tumors are morphologically and functionally distinct from normal resting blood vessels. We probed lymphatic vessels in premalignant lesions and tumors by in vivo screening of phage-displayed peptide libraries, asking whether they too have distinctive signatures. The resulting peptides begin to define such signatures. One peptide identified the lymphatics in a human melanoma xen...

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis (PLC) is the diffuse infltration of lymphatic systems by adenocarcinomas. Because of its vague clinical symptoms and absence of malignant features, confrmatory diagnosis requires transbronchial or open-lung biopsy. Tumor spread is postulated to occur by means of retrograde lymphatic permeation with tumor growth along the lymphatic channels and involvement o...

Cancer cells spread through the body by different mechanisms, such as direct invasion of surrounding tissue, dispersion of cells via the blood vascular system (i.e., hematogenous metastasis), and/or dissemination by means of the lymphatic system (i.e., lymphatic metastasis). Lymph node metastasis is one of the most important adverse prognostic factors in breast carcinoma [2]. An adequate blood ...

BACKGROUND The development of new markers for lymphatic endothelium allowed the study of intratumoral lymphatic microcirculation, as well as its association with lymph node metastasis. METHODS In all, 120 patients with laryngopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LPSCC) without previous treatment were retrospectively studied. The immunohistochemical determination of PA2.26 antigen/podoplanin wa...

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the main immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) of endometrial cancer (EC). TAMs recruitment and polarization EC is regulated by TME EC, culminating a predominantly M2-like macrophage infiltration. promote lymphatic angiogenesis through cytokine secretion, aid escape synergizing with other cells, contribute to development secretion exosomes so as pr...

BACKGROUND The lymphatic system controls tissue homeostasis by draining protein-rich lymph to the vascular system. Lymphangiogenesis, the formation of lymphatic vessels, is a normal event in childhood but promotes tumor spread and metastasis during adulthood. Blocking lymphangiogenesis may therefore be of therapeutic interest. Production of adenosine is enhanced in the tumor environment and con...

Macrophage mannose receptor (MR) participates in pathogen recognition, clearance of endogenous serum glycoproteins, and antigen presentation. MR is also present on lymphatic vessels, where its function is unknown. Here we show that migration of lymphocytes from the skin into the draining lymph nodes through the afferent lymphatics is reduced in MR-deficient mice, while the structure of lymphati...