Skip to main content
. 2020 Aug 31;142(10):100805. doi: 10.1115/1.4048028

Fig. 11.

Proposed lymphangion fluid flow model where the lymphatic valves introduce spatial fluid flow heterogeneity. Lymph accelerates as it approaches the lymphatic valve reaching a local maximum speed near the tip of the valve leaflets where the effective area is smallest. Lymph flow separates from the valve tips creating recirculation zones with long particle residence times. Lymph flow reattaches in the ML region and travels parallel to the wall. Near stagnant flow conditions persist in the VS region, especially in the vicinity of the lymphatic valve origin. The low wall shear stress conditions in the VS and recirculation zone serve to prime the LECs toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype by upregulating the expression of cellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1, ICAM-2, JAM-A, and LYVE-1 and secreted transmigration relevant chemokines IL-8, CCL2, and CXCL2. The long particle residence time in the VS region allows leukocytes to interact with a potentially primed pro-inflammatory lymphatic endothelium.

Proposed lymphangion fluid flow model where the lymphatic valves introduce spatial fluid flow heterogeneity. Lymph accelerates as it approaches the lymphatic valve reaching a local maximum speed near the tip of the valve leaflets where the effective area is smallest. Lymph flow separates from the valve tips creating recirculation zones with long particle residence times. Lymph flow reattaches in the ML region and travels parallel to the wall. Near stagnant flow conditions persist in the VS region, especially in the vicinity of the lymphatic valve origin. The low wall shear stress conditions in the VS and recirculation zone serve to prime the LECs toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype by upregulating the expression of cellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1, ICAM-2, JAM-A, and LYVE-1 and secreted transmigration relevant chemokines IL-8, CCL2, and CXCL2. The long particle residence time in the VS region allows leukocytes to interact with a potentially primed pro-inflammatory lymphatic endothelium.