Lymphatic anomalies include a variety of developmental and/or functional defects affecting the lymphatic vessels: sporadic and familial forms of primary lymphedema, secondary lymphedema, chylothorax and chylous ascites, lymphatic malformations, and overgrowth syndromes with a lymphatic component. Germline mutations have been identified in at least 20 genes that encode proteins acting around VEGFR-3 signaling but also downstream of other tyrosine kinase receptors. These mutations exert their effects via the RAS/MAPK and the PI3K/AKT pathways and explain more than a quarter of the incidence of primary lymphedema, mostly of inherited forms. More common forms may also result from multigenic effects or post-zygotic mutations. Most of the corresponding murine knockouts are homozygous lethal, while heterozygotes are healthy, which suggests differences in human and murine physiology and the influence of other factors. IntroductionThe lymphatic system plays a crucial role in tissue homeostasis. Blunt-ended lymphatic capillaries collect extravasated fluid, transport it via collecting lymphatic vessels and the thoracic duct, and return it to the blood circulation at the level of the left subclavian vein. The lymph travels through lymph nodes for immune surveillance. Larger lymphatic vessels contain valves to orient the passive flow, driven by neighboring arterial pulsations and muscular contractions. Lymphatic anomalies result from defects in the development, maturation, or function of this system. These include lymphatic malformations (LMs), lymphedema, chylothorax and chylous ascites, and overgrowth syndromes with a lymphatic component, including the Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber, proteus, PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome, and CLOVES (congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevi, and skeletal/spinal abnormalities) syndromes (1). Genetic studies and the generation of genetically modified mice have started to shed light on the etiopathogenic mechanisms underlying these diseases.

Glomuvenous malformations (GVMs) are cutaneous venous lesions characterized by the presence of smooth-muscle--like glomus cells in the media surrounding distended vascular lumens. We have shown that heritable GVMs link to a 4--6-cM region in chromosome 1p21-22. We also identified linkage disequilibrium that allowed a narrowing of this VMGLOM locus to 1.48 Mb. Herein, we report the identification of the mutated gene, glomulin, localized on the basis of the YAC and PAC maps. An incomplete cDNA sequence for glomulin had previously been designated "FAP48," for "FKBP-associated protein of 48 kD." The complete cDNA for glomulin contains an open reading frame of 1,785 nt encoding a predicted protein of 68 kD. The gene consists of 19 exons in which we identified 14 different germline mutations in patients with GVM. In addition, we found a somatic "second hit" mutation in affected tissue of a patient with an inherited genomic deletion. Since all but one of the mutations result in premature stop codons, and since the localized nature of the lesions could be explained by Knudson's two-hit model, GVMs are likely caused by complete loss of function of glomulin. The abnormal phenotype of vascular smooth-muscle cells (VSMCs) in GVMs suggests that glomulin plays an important role in differentiation of these cells--and, thereby, in vascular morphogenesis--especially in cutaneous veins.

Vascular malformations are localized defects of vascular development. They usually affect a limited number of vessels in a restricted area of the body. Although most malformations are sporadic, inheritance is observed, enabling genetic analysis. Usually, sporadic forms present with a single lesion whereas multiple lesions are observed in familial cases. The last decade has seen unraveling of several causative genes and beginning of elucidation of the pathophysiological pathways involved in the inherited forms. In parallel, definition of the clinical phenotypes has improved and disorders such as Parkes-Weber syndrome (PKWS), first thought to be sporadic, is now known to be part of a more common inheritable phenotype. In addition, the concept of double-hit mechanism that we proposed earlier to explain the incomplete penetrance, variable expressivity and multifocality of lesions in inherited venous anomalies is now becoming confirmed, as some somatic mutations have been identified in venous, glomuvenous and cerebral cavernous malformations. It is thus tempting to suggest that familial forms of vascular malformations follow paradominant inheritance and that sporadic forms, the etiopathogenic causes of which are still unelucidated, are caused by somatic mutations in the same genes.

Venous malformations (VMs) are localized defects of vascular morphogenesis. They can occur in every organ system, most commonly in skin and muscle. They can cause pain and bleeding, and in some critical locations they can be life threatening. Usually venous anomalies occur sporadically, but families with dominant inheritance have been identified. Using linkage analysis, we have established in earlier reports that some families with inherited VMs show linkage to chromosome 9p21; the mutation causes ligand-independent activation of an endothelial cell-specific receptor tyrosine kinase, TIE-2. Here we show that VMs with glomus cells (known as "glomangiomas"), inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in five families, are not linked to 9p21 but, instead, link to a new locus, on 1p21-p22, called "VMGLOM" (LOD score 12.70 at recombination fraction.00). We exclude three known positional candidate genes, DR1 (depressor of transcription 1), TGFBR3 (transforming growth factor-beta receptor, type 3), and TFA (tissue factor). We hypothesize that cutaneous venous anomalies (i.e., glomangiomas) are caused by mutations in a novel gene that may act to regulate angiogenesis, in concert with the TIE-2 signaling pathway.

Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are debilitating vascular anomalies presenting with large cysts (macrocystic) or lesions that infiltrate tissues (microcystic). Cellular mechanisms underlying LM pathology are poorly understood. Here we show that the somatic PIK3-CA H1047R mutation, resulting in constitutive activation of the p110α PI3K, underlies both macrocystic and microcystic LMs in human. Using a mouse model of PIK3CA H1047R-driven LM, we demonstrate that both types of malformations arise due to lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC)-autonomous defects, with the developmental timing of p110α activation determining the LM subtype. In the postnatal vasculature, PIK3CA H1047R promotes LEC migration and lymphatic hypersprouting, leading to microcystic LMs that grow progressively in a vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C)-dependent manner. Combined inhibition of VEGF-C and the PI3K downstream target mTOR using Rapamycin, but neither treatment alone, promotes regression of lesions. The best therapeutic outcome for LM is thus achieved by coinhibition of the upstream VEGF-C/VEGFR3 and the downstream PI3K/mTOR pathways.