An immunological fingerprint differentiates muscular lymphatics from arteries and veins.

ABSTRACT: The principal function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph from the interstitium to the nodes and then from the nodes to the blood. In doing so lymphatics play important roles in fluid homeostasis, macromolecular/antigen transport and immune cell trafficking. To better understand the genes that contribute to their unique physiology, we compared the transcriptional profile of muscular lymphatics (prenodal mesenteric microlymphatics and large, postnodal thoracic duct) to axillary and mesenteric arteries and veins isolated from rats. Clustering of the differentially expressed genes demonstrated that the lymph versus blood vessel differences were more profound than between blood vessels, particularly the microvessels. Gene ontology functional category analysis indicated that microlym

SUBMITTER: Bridenbaugh EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3780313 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature