The evolving cardiac lymphatic vasculature in development, repair and regeneration

  • Nat Rev Cardiol. 2021 May;18(5):368-379. doi: 10.1038/s41569-020-00489-x.
Konstantinos Klaourakis  1  2 ,  Joaquim M Vieira  3  4 ,  Paul R Riley  5  6
Affiliations
  • 1. Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
  • 2. British Heart Foundation-Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
  • 3. Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. [email protected].
  • 4. British Heart Foundation-Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. [email protected].
  • 5. Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. [email protected].
  • 6. British Heart Foundation-Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. [email protected].
PMID: 33462421 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-020-00489-x
Abstract

The lymphatic vasculature has an essential role in maintaining normal fluid balance in tissues and modulating the inflammatory response to injury or pathogens. Disruption of normal development or function of lymphatic vessels can have severe consequences. In the heart, reduced lymphatic function can lead to myocardial oedema and persistent inflammation. Macrophages, which are phagocytic cells of the innate immune system, contribute to cardiac development and to fibrotic repair and regeneration of cardiac tissue after Myocardial Infarction. In this Review, we discuss the cardiac lymphatic vasculature with a focus on developments over the past 5 years arising from the study of mammalian and zebrafish model organisms. In addition, we examine the interplay between the cardiac lymphatics and Macrophages during fibrotic repair and regeneration after Myocardial Infarction. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting the cardiac lymphatic network to regulate immune cell content and alleviate inflammation in patients with ischaemic Heart Disease.