von der Weid Pierre-Yves, Muthuchamy Mariappan
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Inflammation Research Network and Smooth Muscle Research Group, Snyder Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation and Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1.
Pathophysiology. 2010 Sep;17(4):263-76. doi: 10.1016/j.pathophys.2009.10.005. Epub 2009 Nov 28.
The lymphatic system is composed of a dense network of lymphatic vessels, which are critical components of physiological interstitial fluid transport. These vessels possess intrinsic contractile properties providing the driving force for the fluid to be drained away from the tissues and propelled, as lymph, back into the bloodstream. Lymphatic pumping is also important to carry immune cells, bacteria, macromolecules, viruses and their products to and through lymph nodes, the other component of the lymphatic system, to initiate the adaptive immune response. In addition, among the many circulating mediators known to modulate lymphatic contractile activity and thus lymph flow, mediators of inflammation have potent excitatory or inhibitory actions. The involvement of lymphatic vessels in edema resolution, immune cell trafficking and their sensitivity to inflammatory mediators make them pivotal players of the inflammation process. The ability of lymphatic vessels to generate and regulate lymph flow is provided by the lymphatic muscle present in the vessels' wall. Although molecular studies investigating the mechanisms of lymphatic vessel contraction are still very limited, recent findings suggest that lymphatic pumping requires complicated muscle activities that have similarities to those seen in both the heart (striated muscle) and blood vessels (smooth muscle). This review article focuses on presenting and discussing the mechanisms that regulate lymphatic vessel contraction under normal and pathophysiological states, specifically pertaining to inflammatory conditions.
淋巴系统由密集的淋巴管网络组成，淋巴管是生理性组织间液运输的关键组成部分。这些血管具有内在的收缩特性，为组织间液排出组织并作为淋巴回流至血液循环提供驱动力。淋巴泵对携带免疫细胞、细菌、大分子、病毒及其产物进出淋巴结（淋巴系统的另一组成部分）以启动适应性免疫反应也很重要。此外，在已知可调节淋巴收缩活动进而调节淋巴流动的众多循环介质中，炎症介质具有强大的兴奋或抑制作用。淋巴管参与水肿消退、免疫细胞运输以及它们对炎症介质的敏感性，使其成为炎症过程的关键参与者。淋巴管产生和调节淋巴流动的能力由血管壁中的淋巴肌提供。尽管研究淋巴管收缩机制的分子研究仍然非常有限，但最近的研究结果表明，淋巴泵血需要复杂的肌肉活动，这与心脏（横纹肌）和血管（平滑肌）中的肌肉活动有相似之处。这篇综述文章重点介绍和讨论在正常和病理生理状态下调节淋巴管收缩的机制，特别是与炎症状态相关的机制。
