LYMPHATIC DYSREGULATION IN INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION: NEW INSIGHTS INTO INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE PATHOMECHANISMS

Abstract

Alterations in the intestinal lymphaticnetwork are well-established features ofhuman and experimental inflammatory boweldisease (IBD). Such lymphangiogenicexpansion might enhance classic intestinallymphatic transport, eliminating excessaccumulations of fluid, inflammatory cellsand mediators, and could therefore beinterpreted as an ‘adaptive’ response to acuteand chronic inflammatory processes. However,whether these new lymphatic vessels arefunctional, unregulated or immature (andwhat factors may promote ‘maturation’ ofthese vessels) is currently an area underintense investigation. It is still controversialwhether impaired lymphatic function in IBDis a direct consequence of the intestinalinflammation, or a preceding lymphangitislikeevent. Current research has uncoverednovel regulatory factors as well as new rolesfor familiar signaling pathways, which appearto be linked to inflammation-inducedlymphatic alterations. The current reviewsummarizes mechanisms amplifying lymphaticdysregulation and remodeling in intestinalinflammation at the organ, cell and molecularlevels and discusses the influence of lymphangiogenesisand intestinal lymphatic transportfunction as they relate to IBD pathophysiology.