Boskovic Srdjan, Okuda Kazuhide Shaun
Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia.
Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Jul 21;18(7):1076. doi: 10.3390/ph18071076.
Lymphangiogenesis, the formation of new lymphatic vessels, is essential for embryonic development and the maintenance of tissue fluid balance, as well as for responding to physiological challenges such as injury, inflammation, and oedema. This process is also aberrantly activated in pathological conditions including lymphatic anomalies and cancer. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating induced lymphangiogenesis in various conditions is critical for the development of novel anti- or pro-lymphangiogenic therapeutic strategies. In recent years, the zebrafish has emerged as an important model organism for studying both physiological and pathological lymphangiogenesis. Its optical transparency, conserved lymphatic architecture and signalling pathways, and amenability to genetic manipulation and drug screening make it an especially well-suited model. In this review, we highlight zebrafish models used to investigate induced lymphangiogenesis in the context of regeneration, inflammation, fluid imbalance, and congenital lymphatic anomalies. We will also demonstrate how zebrafish are used to discover new drugs targeting lymphatic vessels under various conditions. Finally, we will discuss the current limitations of using zebrafish to model induced lymphangiogenesis and highlight potential future directions. The findings presented in this review underscore the undeniable value the zebrafish model brings to lymphatic research and therapeutic discovery.
淋巴管生成，即新淋巴管的形成，对于胚胎发育、组织液平衡的维持，以及应对诸如损伤、炎症和水肿等生理挑战至关重要。在包括淋巴管异常和癌症在内的病理状况下，这一过程也会被异常激活。了解在各种情况下调节诱导性淋巴管生成的分子和细胞机制，对于开发新型抗淋巴管生成或促淋巴管生成治疗策略至关重要。近年来，斑马鱼已成为研究生理性和病理性淋巴管生成的重要模式生物。其光学透明性、保守的淋巴结构和信号通路，以及对基因操作和药物筛选的适应性，使其成为特别合适的模型。在这篇综述中，我们重点介绍了用于在再生、炎症、液体失衡和先天性淋巴管异常背景下研究诱导性淋巴管生成的斑马鱼模型。我们还将展示斑马鱼如何被用于在各种条件下发现靶向淋巴管的新药。最后，我们将讨论使用斑马鱼模拟诱导性淋巴管生成目前的局限性，并突出潜在的未来方向。本综述中呈现的数据强调了斑马鱼模型给淋巴研究和治疗发现带来的不可否认的价值。
