Endothelial Cell Responses to Biomechanical Forces in Lymphatic Vessels

Significance: Lymphatic vessels are important components of the cardiovascular and immune systems. They contribute both to the maintenance of normal homeostasis and to many pathological conditions, such as cancer and inflammation. The lymphatic vasculature is subjected to a variety of biomechanical forces, including fluid shear stress and vessel circumferential stretch. Recent Advances: This review will discuss recent advances in our understanding of biomechanical forces in lymphatic vessels and their role in mammalian lymphatic vascular development and function. Critical Issues: We will highlight the importance of fluid shear stress generated by lymph flow in organizing the lymphatic vascular network. We will also describe how mutations in mechanosensitive genes lead to lymphatic vascular dysfunction. Future Directions: Better understanding of how biomechanical and biochemical stimuli are perceived and interpreted by lymphatic endothelial cells is important for targeting regulation of lymphatic function in health and disease. Important remaining critical issues and future directions in the field will be discussed in this review.