Dynamics and Mechanisms of Interaction of Mouse Spleen Lymphocytes with 3D Collagen Matrix in vitro

Interaction of immunocompetent cells with extracellular matrix is one of the main stages in their homing and circulation. In this connection we investigated quantitative and dynamic parameters of interaction between splenocytes and 3D collagen matrix in vitro. It was found out that, about 20% of mouse spleen lymphocytes exhibited ability to bind to type I collagen that reflected as their adhesion to and/or migration in collagen matrix. The number of lymphocytes capable of the interaction with collagen gained successively as far as the time of their incubation on collagen matrix was increased and reached maximum by 24 h. The lymphocyte-collagen interaction was energy-dependent and engaged collagen receptors, which probably have been already expressed on cells before spleen lymphocytes were isolated. The series of intracellular interchanges as activation of protein kinase C, assembly of actin filaments and depolymerization of tubulin microtubules were critical for lymphocytes to adhere to and further to migrate in collagen matrix. Long lasting incubation (24 h and more) of lymphocytes in adhesion excluding conditions did not reduce the number of cells able to interact with collagen, but to a great extent changed mechanisms providing their adhesion and/or migration.