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Leaking Lymph
11 March 2017

Leaking Lymph

For all our flesh and bone, 60 percent of the human body is water. It doesn’t just slosh about but rather is kept in line by several intricate bodily systems, including a network of tubes and ducts known as the lymphatic system. A faulty lymphatic system can result in lymphoedema, a condition where the extremities swell up as fluid collects where it shouldn’t. Hoping to learn more about the human lymphatic system and why it breaks down, researchers examined structures called lymph collectors (pictured). New markers were found to identify these structures, including a protein called CCBE1 (green). Mutations in the CCBE1 gene cause Hennekam syndrome, a disease that unsurprisingly involves lymphoedema. Delving deeper into the human lymphatic system enables us to gain a better understanding of its workings in health and disease.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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