Regulation of lymphatic vessel formation by interstitial fluid forces

We provide evidence to support our hypothesis that lymphangiogenesis is regulated and organized by interstitial fluid flow. In a mouse model of skin regenerated from an acellular collagen construct (implanted to replace a portion of excised tail skin), our observations of lymphatic regeneration are consistent with fluid channeling and flow organization rather than sprouting. We also show that in a modified model where interstitial flow was allowed to shunt around the construct, lymphatic regeneration was not seen, despite an identical biochemical background.