The transport function of the human lymphatic system-A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Lymphatic System Biology

Background:

• The physiological properties and functional mechanisms of the lymphatic system remain incompletely understood.
• This study reviews current knowledge on human lymphatic vessel contractility and adaptability.

Approach:

• A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed for studies published between January 2000 and September 2022.
• Inclusion criteria focused on in vivo and ex vivo human lymphatic vessel parameters: contraction frequency, fluid velocity, and pressure.
• 28 out of 2885 identified papers met the inclusion criteria.

Key Points:

• In vivo human lymphatic vessels exhibit contraction frequencies of 0.2–1.8 min⁻¹, velocities of 0.008–2.3 cm/s, and pressures of 4.5–60.3 mm Hg.
• Factors like gravity, hyperthermia, and nifedipine influence contraction frequency.
• Ex vivo studies show higher contraction frequencies (1.2–5.5 min⁻¹) and responses to various pharmacological agents affecting ion channels and receptors.

Conclusions:

• The lymphatic system demonstrates dynamic and adaptable physiological properties.
• Discrepancies in results highlight the need for standardized investigative methods.
• Larger, systematic studies are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of lymphatic transport and its clinical relevance.