The main physiological function of the lymphatic vasculature is to maintain tissue fluid
homeostasis. Lymphangiogenesis or de novo lymphatic formation is closely associated with
tissue inflammation in adults (ie wound healing, allograft rejection, tumor metastasis). Until
recently, research on lymphangiogenesis focused mainly on growth factor/growth factor-
receptor pathways governing this process. One of the lymphatic vessel features is the
incomplete or absence of basement membrane. This close association of endothelial cells …