The Broad Spectrum of Lymphatic Health and Disease

In this issue of Lymphatic Research and Biology, as previously, we continue to feature original articles that highlight the breadth of lymphatic health and disease.

In their manuscript, Hodge et al. examine the mechanisms that may surround the benefits to be accrued through the clinical utilization of lymphatic pump techniques. ¹ Application of these techniques is believed to enhance lymph circulation and imbue protection during infection. In the current investigation, data are derived from a canine model to support the enhancement of lymph flow and leukocyte mobilization from gut-associated lymphoid tissues into both mesenteric and thoracic duct lymph.

In an important methodological assessment, Gjorup et al. ² provide an important comparative analysis of the relative utility of circumferential measurements, water displacement volumetry, and regional dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in the diagnosis of breast cancer-related lymphedema, concluding that the latter technique provides a suitable coefficient of variation to support its use as a reference technique for diagnosis and clinical monitoring.

Finally, Kelley and Tempero ³ address the tonsil, a unique lymphoid organ that is in intimate contact with the contents of the upper aerodigestive tract without identifiable afferent lymphatics. The authors provide a descriptive study of the spatial organization of the human tonsil lymphatic vasculature, with discontinuous expression of CD31 and VE-cadherin in human lymphatic capillaries, and a change in lymphatic vessel morphology in response to inflammation.