Leukocyte-lymphatic intersections during cardiac inflammation

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Advances in genetic, pharmacologic, and sequencing technology have led to new insight into the role of lymphatics in health and disease. This includes fundamental aspects of the crosstalk between immune cells with cardiac lymphatics. At the interface between leukocytes and lymphatic endothelial cells, myeloid populations are sources of lymphatic growth factors during inflammation. Lymphatic endothelial cells also secrete signals that activate leukocytes, including to antigen presenting cells. Taken together, a view of the lymphatic vasculature as a supplemental cardiac immune hub is emerging. Herein, we discuss reciprocal cell and molecular crosstalk between leukocytes and lymphatics in the myocardium, with implications for health and cardiac inflammation.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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