Lymph Vessels in Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

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Welcome to the Leducq Transatlantic Network of Excellence on Lymph Vessels in Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

Obesity and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death and disability in developed nations. Current treatments for these diseases target biological processes involving the heart, blood vessels, and other organs directly affected. Although such treatments have improved outcomes, the development of new therapies requires the identification and validation of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying these diseases. In the past, the biological roles of the lymphatic vascular network, which is required to maintain tissue fluid balance, absorb intestinal fats, and coordinate immune responses, was considered distinct from those of the blood vasculature. However, recent findings by the investigators in this network and others provide strong evidence of lymphatic vessel dysfunction in obesity, arterial wall inflammation, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis.