The Biophysics of Lymphatic Transport: Engineering Tools and Immunological Consequences
Meghan J. O'Melia,
Amanda W. Lund,
Susan N. Thomas
Affiliations
Meghan J. O'Melia
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
Amanda W. Lund
Departments of Cell Developmental Cancer Biology, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, and Dermatology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 2720 SW Moody Avenue, KR-CDCB, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Corresponding author
Susan N. Thomas
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, 313 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, 315 Ferst Dr NW, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, 801 Ferst Dr NW, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Winship Cancer Institute, 1365 Clifton Rd, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Corresponding author
Lymphatic vessels mediate fluid flows that affect antigen distribution and delivery, lymph node stromal remodeling, and cell-cell interactions, to thus regulate immune activation. Here we review the functional role of lymphatic transport and lymph node biomechanics in immunity. We present experimental tools that enable quantitative analysis of lymphatic transport and lymph node dynamics in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we discuss the current understanding for how changes in lymphatic transport and lymph node biomechanics contribute to pathogenesis of conditions including cancer, aging, neurodegeneration, and infection. : Lymphology; Biophysics; Biomechanics; Biological Sciences Tools Subject Areas: Lymphology, Biophysics, Biomechanics, Biological Sciences Tools
