Breaking down to rebuild: lymphatic ablation enhances osteoclast-driven regeneration

The fingertip is one of the only known complex structures in mammals that can fully regenerate following amputation. This phenomenon can be studied in mice using the amputation of the digit tip, the regenerative success of which has been shown to be reliant on effective bone clearance prior to new bone formation. In this issue of the JCI, Vishlaghi et al. investigated whether local lymphatic vessels are involved in this process. Interestingly, they found that inhibiting lymphangiogenesis resulted in accelerated clearance of damaged tissue and bone, thereby improving subsequent digit regeneration. This study is the first to our knowledge to report lymphatic involvement in digit regeneration and raises questions regarding the underlying mechanisms at play.