Immune–lymphatic crosstalk in skin homeostasis, repair, and disease

The lymphatic vasculature plays an essential role in maintaining skin homeostasis by regulating fluid balance and immune cell trafficking. Growing evidence indicates that a heterogeneous population of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) can adapt to changes in the local tissue environment. Moreover, immune cells can influence lymphatic development, regeneration, and functional state, establishing reciprocal interactions that shape tissue responses. In this review, we discuss how these interactions regulate immune trafficking, wound repair, and inflammatory resolution. We also examine how lymphatic remodeling becomes dysregulated in chronic inflammation and tumors, where altered vessel growth and transport can have divergent consequences depending on the surrounding immune context. Together, these findings support a view of skin lymphatics as dynamic participants in tissue immunity and highlight the need to evaluate lymphatic function and LEC state rather than vessel density alone.