Development of lymphatic progenitors in vitro and their potential in biomedical applications

The lymphatic system, despite its widespread distribution and critical role in various biological processes, remains relatively underappreciated. Recent studies have moved beyond viewing it merely as a system of conduits, highlighting its significant involvement as a main driver of numerous diseases. However, progress has been hindered by the difficulty in isolating primary lymphatic endothelial cells and the scarcity of reliable lymphatic progenitors derived in vitro. Consequently, the development of functional in vitro models or advanced therapies for lymphatic and lymphatic-associated pathologies first requires establishing robust and adequate methods for generating lymphatic progenitors. This thesis addresses this need by exploring different strategies and tissue sources for obtaining in vitro differentiated lymphatic progenitors, culminating in a comprehensive characterization of their potential in disease modelling, cellular therapy, and their translatability to human samples.