Investigating the Effects of Shear Stress on the Protein Expression of Lymphatic Endothelial Cells (LECs)

Abstract

The lymphatic system plays three main important roles: Its cells are primarily responsible for the immune response of the human body, it represents a separate circulatory system, and it is involved in the transport of select nutrients from the digestive system to the circulatory system. All of these functions rely on the generation and regulation of the lymph flow along the lymphatic network. Any malfunction in the flow within the lymphatic network could potentially lead to an anomaly in the body as whole. Moreover, any imbalance within the fluid reabsorption of the interstitial fluid could lead to edema, which is a common problem worldwide. The lymphatic vasculature acts also as a conduit for cancer metastasis. My research will investigate the effects of shear forces on gene expression within lymphatic endothelial cells. Identification of factors that trigger gene expression in LECs also has implications for cancer metastasis as well as the pathophysiology of lymphatic edema. The expected outcomes for this research project is that it may identify changes in shear forces that may result in altered gene expression in lymphatic endothelial cells that may have a role in lymphatic edema.