Corneal angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of the present review is to describe new antilymphangiogenic treatment strategies and recent findings on strain-dependency of corneal lymphangiogenesis and the interdependency between blood and lymphatic vessel growth. RECENT FINDINGS: Studies on mice have revealed that apart from haemangiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis can also differ markedly between several mouse strains under normal and inflammatory conditions. Although haemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are closely interconnected in their spatial-temporal patterning, recent data suggest that they can also occur independently. SUMMARY: Understanding the coordinated regulation of blood and lymphatic vessel growth and genetic factors determining lymphangiogenesis in more detail could improve the development of specifically targeted antihaemangiogenic or antilymphangiogenic strategies.