ISSN: 2155-9899
Stephan Segerer
Rämistr. 100, 8091 Zurich
Switzerland
Review Article
The Role of Lymphatic Vessels in Renal Injury
Author(s): Harald Seeger, Stephan SegererHarald Seeger, Stephan Segerer
Progressive kidney diseases are characterized by the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the tubulointerstitium, tubular atrophy and fibrosis. The number of lymphatic vessels increases in the interstitium during this process (i.e. neolymphangiogenesis). Here we will describe the current evidence for neolymphangiogenesis during renal injury, summarize the major factors involved and discuss the functional consequences. Data are emerging that central profibrotic players like TGF-β also mediate the release of lymphangiogenic factors such as VEGF-C and VEGF-D in the kidney. Furthermore, in other organs activation of TGF-β by VEGF-C has been described. The complex interactions of profibrotic and lymphangiogenic factors might explain why lymphangiogenesis was found to be associated with fibrosis in some models, but a reduction in fibrosis in others. It.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2155-9899.1000255