lymphatic system

Lymphatic System
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The lymphatic system is quite important to immunity despite not being considered as part of the human immune system. This system is made up of a network of various lymphoid organs: lymph tissues, lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, lymph capillaries, and lymph ducts that carry the lymph fluid among other substances in the body. The lymphatic system is also composed of the spleen that is found just under the ribcage. Together with other parts of the lymphatic system, the spleen helps in protecting the body by clearing the worn-out cells in the fight against infections. The lymphatic system, however, is primarily known for its role in the fight to balance body fluids. Its other functions include those of inhibiting infection spread and aiding digestive processes.
First, the lymphatic system plays a significant role in balancing body fluids and proteins. When the blood passes through body veins and arteries, about 10 percent of the fluid and proteins filtered by the capillaries are trapped in body tissues. Such loss that approximates to 1.2 liters per day could be quite fatal, especially if the lymphatic system is malfunctioning. It is thus the role of the lymphatic system to collect this filtered fluid and return it to the circulatory system ADDIN CSL_CITATION { “citationItems” : [ { “id” : “ITEM-1”, “itemData” : { “DOI” : “10.1038/sj.jid.5700464”, “ISBN” : “0022-202X (Print)\n0022-202X (Linking)”, “ISSN” : “0022-202X”, “PMID” : “16983326”, “abstract” : “The cutaneous lymphatic system plays an important role in the maintenance of tissue fluid homeostasis, in the afferent phase of the immune response, and in the metastatic spread of skin cancers.

However, the lymphatic system has not received as much scientific attention as the blood vascular system, largely due to a lack of lymphatic-specific markers and to the dearth of knowledge about the molecular regulation of its development and function. The recent identification of genes that specifically control lymphatic development and the growth of lymphatic vessels (lymphangiogenesis), together with the discovery of new lymphatic endothelium-specific markers, have now provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms that control lymphatic growth and function. Moreover, studies of several genetic mouse models have set the framework for a new molecular model for embryonic lymphatic vascular development, and have identified molecular pathways whose mutational inactivation leads to human diseases associated with lymphedema. These scientific advances have also provided surprising evidence that malignant tumors can directly promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis, and that lymphatic vessels play a major role in cutaneous inflammation and in the cutaneous response to UVB irradiation.”, “author” : [ { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Cueni”, “given” : “Leah N”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Detmar”, “given” : “Michael”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” } ], “container-title” : “The Journal of investigative dermatology”, “id” : “ITEM-1”, “issue” : “10”, “issued” : { “date-parts” : [ [ “2006” ] ] }, “page” : “2167-2177”, “title” : “New insights into the molecular control of the lymphatic vascular system and its role in disease.”, “type” : “article-journal”, “volume” : “126” }, “uris” : [ “http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=ffb5c4b7-00f4-44a8-ac87-2ac1e63a49e0” ] } ], “mendeley” : { “formattedCitation” : “(Cueni & Detmar, 2006)”, “plainTextFormattedCitation” : “(Cueni & Detmar, 2006)”, “previouslyFormattedCitation” : “(Cueni & Detmar, 2006)” }, “properties” : { }, “schema” : “https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json” }(Cueni & Detmar, 2006). In addition, the lymphatic transport system controls proteins, peptides, and other macromolecules availability in all body tissues. Apart from that, the lymph fluid while moving slowly through different body tissues facilitates the supply of signaling molecules, cytokines, and hormones to various cells.
Lymphatic cells also play a critical role in regulating inflammation. Lymphatic capillaries often act as molecular clearance mediators; a function that is important in regulating body inflammatory reactions. Apart from acting as avenues for flow-directed clearance, lymphatic capillaries also help in the processes of inflammatory-mediated clearance. This is because many lymphatic capillaries express a nonsignaling receptor known as the G protein-coupled receptorD6, which scavenges chemokines ADDIN CSL_CITATION { “citationItems” : [ { “id” : “ITEM-1”, “itemData” : { “DOI” : “10.1038/sj.jid.5700464”, “ISBN” : “0022-202X (Print)\n0022-202X (Linking)”, “ISSN” : “0022-202X”, “PMID” : “16983326”, “abstract” : “The cutaneous lymphatic system plays an important role in the maintenance of tissue fluid homeostasis, in the afferent phase of the immune response, and in the metastatic spread of skin cancers. However, the lymphatic system has not received as much scientific attention as the blood vascular system, largely due to a lack of lymphatic-specific markers and to the dearth of knowledge about the molecular regulation of its development and function. The recent identification of genes that specifically control lymphatic development and the growth of lymphatic vessels (lymphangiogenesis), together with the discovery of new lymphatic endothelium-specific markers, have now provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms that control lymphatic growth and function. Moreover, studies of several genetic mouse models have set the framework for a new molecular model for embryonic lymphatic vascular development, and have identified molecular pathways whose mutational inactivation leads to human diseases associated with lymphedema. These scientific advances have also provided surprising evidence that malignant tumors can directly promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis, and that lymphatic vessels play a major role in cutaneous inflammation and in the cutaneous response to UVB irradiation.”, “author” : [ { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Cueni”, “given” : “Leah N”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Detmar”, “given” : “Michael”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” } ], “container-title” : “The Journal of investigative dermatology”, “id” : “ITEM-1”, “issue” : “10”, “issued” : { “date-parts” : [ [ “2006” ] ] }, “page” : “2167-2177”, “title” : “New insights into the molecular control of the lymphatic vascular system and its role in disease.”, “type” : “article-journal”, “volume” : “126” }, “uris” : [ “http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=ffb5c4b7-00f4-44a8-ac87-2ac1e63a49e0” ] } ], “mendeley” : { “formattedCitation” : “(Cueni & Detmar, 2006)”, “plainTextFormattedCitation” : “(Cueni & Detmar, 2006)”, “previouslyFormattedCitation” : “(Cueni & Detmar, 2006)” }, “properties” : { }, “schema” : “https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json” }(Cueni & Detmar, 2006). The process of scavenging entails receptor-mediated understanding and deconstruction of different types of CC-kind chemokines that are linked to inflammation. Consequently, receptor D6 actively participates in preventing lymphatic congestion and inflammation.
Apart from that, the lymphatic system also plays a critical role in the bodily immune functions. This system is often the first defense line against infections. The nodes and vessels network move and filter the lymph fluid that has various antibodies and lymphocytes as well as viruses or bacteria. The body first signals for the lymphatics when it encounters infectious agents such as bacteria and virus by asking the lymphatic system to manage infection-fighting cells to fend off these foreign organisms ADDIN CSL_CITATION { “citationItems” : [ { “id” : “ITEM-1”, “itemData” : { “DOI” : “10.1146/annurev-immunol-041015-055354”, “ISBN” : “9783319193878”, “ISSN” : “0732-0582”, “PMID” : “27860528”, “abstract” : “The lymphatic vasculature is not considered a formal part of the immune system, but it is critical to immunity. One of its major roles is in the coordination of the trafficking of antigen and immune cells. However, other roles in immunity are emerging. Lymphatic endothelial cells, for example, directly present antigen or express factors that greatly influence the local environment. We cover these topics herein and discuss how other properties of the lymphatic vasculature, such as mechanisms of lymphatic contraction (which immunologists traditionally do not take into account), are nonetheless integral in the immune system. Much is yet unknown, and this nascent subject is ripe for exploration. We argue that to consider the impact of lymphatic biology in any given immunological interaction is a key step toward integrating immunology with organ physiology and ultimately many complex pathologies. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Immunology Volume 35 is April 26, 2017. Please see …”, “author” : [ { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Randolph”, “given” : “Gwendalyn J.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Ivanov”, “given” : “Stoyan”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Zinselmeyer”, “given” : “Bernd H.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Scallan”, “given” : “Joshua P.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” } ], “container-title” : “Annual Review of Immunology”, “id” : “ITEM-1”, “issue” : “1”, “issued” : { “date-parts” : [ [ “2017” ] ] }, “page” : “31-52”, “title” : “The Lymphatic System: Integral Roles in Immunity”, “type” : “article-journal”, “volume” : “35” }, “uris” : [ “http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=a06b67d7-59bf-49b1-bd21-39c2c5463188” ] } ], “mendeley” : { “formattedCitation” : “(Randolph, Ivanov, Zinselmeyer, & Scallan, 2017)”, “plainTextFormattedCitation” : “(Randolph, Ivanov, Zinselmeyer, & Scallan, 2017)”, “previouslyFormattedCitation” : “(Randolph, Ivanov, Zinselmeyer, & Scallan, 2017)” }, “properties” : { }, “schema” : “https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json” }(Randolph, Ivanov, Zinselmeyer, & Scallan, 2017). The spleen is also called upon to fight foreign materials. Its contents such as lymphocytes as well as macrophages aid in engulfing bacteria, foreign materials, worn out tissues, and discarding these materials from the blood via the spleen.
Finally, the lymphatic vessels that cover the GIT (gastrointestinal tract) aid in digestion. These vessels play a key role in the absorption of fats from food ADDIN CSL_CITATION { “citationItems” : [ { “id” : “ITEM-1”, “itemData” : { “DOI” : “10.1146/annurev-immunol-041015-055354”, “ISBN” : “9783319193878”, “ISSN” : “0732-0582”, “PMID” : “27860528”, “abstract” : “The lymphatic vasculature is not considered a formal part of the immune system, but it is critical to immunity. One of its major roles is in the coordination of the trafficking of antigen and immune cells. However, other roles in immunity are emerging. Lymphatic endothelial cells, for example, directly present antigen or express factors that greatly influence the local environment. We cover these topics herein and discuss how other properties of the lymphatic vasculature, such as mechanisms of lymphatic contraction (which immunologists traditionally do not take into account), are nonetheless integral in the immune system. Much is yet unknown, and this nascent subject is ripe for exploration. We argue that to consider the impact of lymphatic biology in any given immunological interaction is a key step toward integrating immunology with organ physiology and ultimately many complex pathologies. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Immunology Volume 35 is April 26, 2017. Please see …”, “author” : [ { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Randolph”, “given” : “Gwendalyn J.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Ivanov”, “given” : “Stoyan”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Zinselmeyer”, “given” : “Bernd H.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Scallan”, “given” : “Joshua P.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” } ], “container-title” : “Annual Review of Immunology”, “id” : “ITEM-1”, “issue” : “1”, “issued” : { “date-parts” : [ [ “2017” ] ] }, “page” : “31-52”, “title” : “The Lymphatic System: Integral Roles in Immunity”, “type” : “article-journal”, “volume” : “35” }, “uris” : [ “http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=a06b67d7-59bf-49b1-bd21-39c2c5463188” ] } ], “mendeley” : { “formattedCitation” : “(Randolph et al., 2017)”, “plainTextFormattedCitation” : “(Randolph et al., 2017)”, “previouslyFormattedCitation” : “(Randolph et al., 2017)” }, “properties” : { }, “schema” : “https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json” }(Randolph et al., 2017). Any problem with this lining might cause serious malnutrition. This system also plays a key part in some conditions such as obesity which is often precipitated by the abnormal carbohydrates and fat absorption and metabolism.
In conclusion, the lymphatic system carries out important complementary functions to the immune system. It plays important functions such as balancing the body fluids and proteins, mediating inflammatory reactions, facilitating the absorption of fats from food in the GIT, as well as acting as the first line of defense against foreign organisms such as bacteria.
References
ADDIN Mendeley Bibliography CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Cueni, L. N., & Detmar, M. (2006). New insights into the molecular control of the lymphatic vascular system and its role in disease. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 126(10), 2167–2177. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jid.5700464
Randolph, G. J., Ivanov, S., Zinselmeyer, B. H., & Scallan, J. P. (2017). The Lymphatic System: Integral Roles in Immunity. Annual Review of Immunology, 35(1), 31–52. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-immunol-041015-055354