# Cardiac lymphatic vessels in heart development and regeneration.

> **NIH NIH R01** · CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $423,750

## Abstract

Project Summary
Coronary and cardiac lymphatic vessels constitute the vasculature of the heart and
provide a supporting environment for heart development and myocardial regeneration.
Coronary arteries play critical roles in maintaining heart functions by providing a
continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients. The lymphatic vasculature is a specialized
network of vessels that drains fluid from tissues and enables immune-cell trafficking and
surveillance throughout the body. Although recent clinical observations suggest that
lymphatic obstruction might be associated with heart diseases and myocardial edema
decreases cardiac output and can cause interstitial fibrosis, the importance of the
cardiac lymphatic system has been largely underappreciated. It is not clear how cardiac
lymphatic vessels form and function during heart development, repair, and regeneration.
We have characterized cardiac lymphatic vessel formation using zebrafish as a model
for their remarkable regenerative capacity. In this proposal, we will test the hypothesis
that coronary arteries can provide guidance for the formation of lymphatic vessels during
zebrafish heart development and regeneration and Cxcr4a and Ackr3a positively and
negatively regulate these processes. We will determine the functions of Ackr3a in
coronary and cardiac lymphatic vessel development and heart regeneration. Using novel
zebrafish CRISPR mutants we generated, we will analyze new candidate genes in
coronary and cardiac lymphatic vessel development. With these zebrafish as tools, we
will assess whether cardiac lymphatic vessels can affect heart regeneration by
modulating fluid homeostasis and immune cell clearance. Our proposed research will not
only provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of coronary and cardiac lymphatic
vessel formation during heart development and in response to cardiac injury, it might
lead to promising targets for future therapeutic approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10249328
- **Project number:** 5R01HL148706-02
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Ching-Ling E Lien
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $423,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-28 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10249328

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10249328, Cardiac lymphatic vessels in heart development and regeneration. (5R01HL148706-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10249328. Licensed CC0.

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