Cardiovascular Cardiometabolic Journal (2020) 2, 77-81
https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/CCJ
© 2020 Cardiovascular Cardiometabolic Journal
E-mail: ccj@journal.unair.ac.id
ABSTRACT
Before molecular medicine era, the lymphatic system was not
getting enough attention in medicine world, especially in
cardiovascular medicine. Our knowledge about lymphatic system is
far left behind compare to vascular system. Many believes lymphatic
function is isolated in regulate interstitial fluid hemostasis, fat
transport, and immune transport. In deep investigation in lymphatic
function shows that alteration in lymphatic vessel could disrupt
normal cardiovascular function. Moreover, optimal cardiac lymphatic
condition after post-heart tissue injury could enhance tissue
regeneration. That is why in modern medicine era preserving
optimal lymphatic condition and treat abnormal lymphatic condition
might be beneficial in cardiovascular medicine.
Review
Lymphatic Disease in Cardiology: The Forgettable One
S. L. Purwowiyoto
1,2*
, N. Anggriyani
3
, and S. P. Surya
4
1
Head of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, RSUD Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta.
2
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR. Hamka, Tangerang, Indonesia.
3
Department Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, RSUP dr. Karyadi, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Central Java.
4
Army Hospital Kesdam Jaya Cijantung, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Introduction Discussion
The lymphatic system is still a mystery box in the
modern medicine world. Even it has fundamental
relation with other diseases such as
cardiovascular, infection, immunology, metabolic,
and cancer, many practitioners presume it
clinically insignificant [1]. There are several major
functions of lymphatic system like immune
transport, tissue fluid hemostasis, and absorption
of dietary lipid.
2
Together with blood vascular
system, the lymphatic vasculatures found in most
of the vascularized tissues and complement the
blood vessel. However, they both quite different in
morphology and function.
3
Beside lack of interest,
the lymphatic system is a transparent vessel that
make it difficult to observe [1,2].
a. Lymphatic Endothelial Cells (LEC)
Lymphatic vessels are unidirectional flow and
compose of a single layer of endothelial cell. Ultra-
structure morphology of LEC is slightly different
compare to the endothelial cell in the blood vessels;
more thin, irregular and wider [4]. Unique LEC
configuration, overlapping flaps LEC adherence
with each other with intercellular junctions in their
base and make button-like structure, permits
interstitial fluid, macromolecule, and cell enter the
lumen more easily [2,4]. The tight junction of the
LEC is rich with protein and vascular endothelial
cadherin [2]. However lymphatic vessel is very
dependent with their extracellular matrix (ECM) to
prevent collapse of the vessel and
lymphangiogenesis [4]. The lymphatic vessels
connect with ECM with anchoring filaments that can
ARTICLE INFO
Article history:
Submitted August 2020
Reviewed September 2020
Accepted September 2020
Available online September 2020
*Corresponding author:
sidhilaksono@uhamka.ac.id
Keywords:
Lymphatic System
Lymphatic Function
Lymphatic Disease