Recent discoveries of novel functions and diverse origins of lymphatic vessels have drastically changed our view of lymphatic vasculature. Traditionally regarded as passive conduits for fluid and immune cells, lymphatic vessels now emerge as active, tissue-specific players in major physiological and pathophysiological processes. Lymphatic vessels show remarkable plasticity and heterogeneity, reflecting their functional specialization to control the tissue microenvironment. Moreover, alternative developmental origins of lymphatic endothelial cells in some organs may contribute to the diversity of their functions in adult tissues. This review aims to summarize the most recent findings of organotypic differentiation of lymphatic endothelial cells in terms of their distinct (patho)physiological functions in skin, lymph nodes, small intestine, brain, and eye. We discuss recent advances in our understanding of the heterogeneity of lymphatic vessels with respect to the organ-specific functional and molecular specialization of lymphatic endothelium, such as the hybrid blood-lymphatic identity of Schlemm’s canal, functions of intestinal lymphatics in dietary fat uptake, and discovery of meningeal lymphatic vasculature and perivascular brain lymphatic endothelial cells.

淋巴管的新颖功能和多种起源的最新发现极大地改变了我们对淋巴管系统的看法。淋巴管传统上被视为流体和免疫细胞的被动导管，如今已成为主要生理和病理生理过程中活跃的，组织特异性的参与者。淋巴管显示出显着的可塑性和异质性，反映了它们在控制组织微环境方面的功能专长。此外，某些器官中淋巴管内皮细胞的替代发育起源可能有助于它们在成人组织中功能的多样性。这篇综述旨在就淋巴管内皮细胞在皮肤，淋巴结，小肠，脑，和眼睛。我们讨论了关于淋巴管异质性的淋巴管异质性和淋巴管内皮的分子特化方面的最新进展，例如Schlemm管的混合血淋巴特性，肠道淋巴管在饮食中摄取脂肪的功能以及脑膜淋巴管和血管周脑淋巴管内皮细胞的发现。