About this Research Topic
Taken together, data collected by the field indicates that management of the lymphatic vasculature, its transport properties, and the ability to influence immunity through peripheral T cell tolerance and immunological memory, make the lymphatic vasculature and LECs key regulators of immunity. These immunological mechanisms are increasingly relevant as approaches to exploit or inhibit the lymphatic vasculature are explored for diverse applications from tumor immunotherapy, vaccine development, and chronic inflammation. The goal of this Research Topic is to establish a working model for how the lymphatic vasculature and the LECs that comprise the lymphatic vasculature contribute to immunity, tolerance and inflammation from (i) balancing immune surveillance and peripheral tolerance to (ii) initial responses to a challenge, generation of adaptive immunity, and (iii) the return to homeostasis. A deeper understanding of these processes will inform approaches for therapeutic management of the immune system.
In this Research-Topic, we welcome the submission of Original Research, Protocol, Method, Perspective, Review, and Mini Review articles that cover the following research areas:
1. The lymphatic vasculature, immune surveillance, homeostasis.
2. The lymphatic vasculature and the innate immune response.
3. Lymphatic vessels and initiation of the adaptive immune response, immune privilege, and graft immunity.
4. Leukocyte trafficking via the lymphatic vasculature.
5. Inflammation and lymphatic transport.
6. Composition of lymph and biomechanics of lymph transport – implications for immunity.
7. LEC-mediated regulation of peripheral immunological tolerance and immune evasion
8. Factors controlling self-antigen presentation by LECs and its implications for immune tolerance.
9. Lymphatic vessels, LECs, and immunological memory.
10. Immune-mediated remodeling of peripheral and nodal lymphatic networks, contraction and normalization.
11. Lymphangiogenesis, lymphatic transport, and infection.
12. Lymphatic vessel and LEC immune dysfunction in chronic conditions (obesity, hypertension, arthritis, lymphedema, etc.).
13. Tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis, anti-tumor immunity, and immunotherapy.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.