Maddie Jackson, PhD Candidate
October 1 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lymphatic endothelial cell cycle control enables lymphatic valve formation
The lymphatic vasculature relies on intraluminal valves to maintain unidirectional lymph flow and tissue fluid homeostasis. Disruption to their formation during embryonic development leads to congenital lymphedema, or aberrant pooling of lymph in the tissues leading to tissue swelling, fibrosis, and localized immune dysfunction. Despite this, our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate lymphatic valve formation is not complete. In my talk I will discuss how a Cx37-p27 signaling axis enables lymphatic valve formation through promoting a late G1 state in valve-forming lymphatic endothelial cells, and how that late G1 state enables valve cell migration and valve leaflet formation.
PhD Candidate, Hirschi Lab, University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA