PUBLICATION

Cells with Many Talents: Lymphatic Endothelial Cells in the Brain Meninges

Authors
Suárez, I., Schulte-Merker, S.
ID
ZDB-PUB-210501-9
Date
2021
Source
Cells   10(4): (Review)
Registered Authors
Schulte-Merker, Stefan
Keywords
endocytosis, lymphatic cells, meninges, regeneration
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Brain/cytology*
  • Endothelial Cells/cytology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphangiogenesis
  • Lymphatic System/cytology*
  • Macromolecular Substances/metabolism
  • Meninges/cytology*
PubMed
33918497 Full text @ Cells
Abstract
The lymphatic system serves key functions in maintaining fluid homeostasis, the uptake of dietary fats in the small intestine, and the trafficking of immune cells. Almost all vascularized peripheral tissues and organs contain lymphatic vessels. The brain parenchyma, however, is considered immune privileged and devoid of lymphatic structures. This contrasts with the notion that the brain is metabolically extremely active, produces large amounts of waste and metabolites that need to be cleared, and is especially sensitive to edema formation. Recently, meningeal lymphatic vessels in mammals and zebrafish have been (re-)discovered, but how they contribute to fluid drainage is still not fully understood. Here, we discuss these meningeal vessel systems as well as a newly described cell population in the zebrafish and mouse meninges. These cells, termed brain lymphatic endothelial cells/Fluorescent Granular Perithelial cells/meningeal mural lymphatic endothelial cells in fish, and Leptomeningeal Lymphatic Endothelial Cells in mice, exhibit remarkable features. They have a typical lymphatic endothelial gene expression signature but do not form vessels and rather constitute a meshwork of single cells, covering the brain surface.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping