In vitro models of lymphocyte transendothelial migration

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Lymphocyte-endothelial cell interactions are critical for immune responses.
• Cytokines and adhesion molecules regulate lymphocyte trafficking.
• Understanding these processes is vital for immune cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review lymphocyte-endothelial cell interactions.
• To discuss in vitro assays for studying these interactions.
• To highlight the roles of cytokines and adhesion molecules.

Main Methods:

• Review of motility assays using porous filters and gel matrices.
• Analysis of cytokine-induced modulation of lymphocyte migration and adhesion.
• Examination of endothelial cell adhesion molecule induction by cytokines.
• Study of transendothelial migration using cultured endothelial cell layers.

Main Results:

• Interleukins (IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8) modulate lymphocyte migration.
• Tumor necrosis factor and IL-1 upregulate intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1).
• Interferon-gamma upregulates ICAM-1; IL-4 induces VCAM-1.
• Lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)/ICAM-1 and very late activation antigen 4 (VLA-4)/VCAM-1 mediate adhesion.
• LFA-1/ICAM-1 interactions are more significant in transendothelial migration.

Conclusions:

• Cytokines and specific adhesion molecule interactions orchestrate lymphocyte trafficking.
• In vitro models effectively distinguish lymphocyte adhesion from migration.
• LFA-1/ICAM-1 pathway plays a dominant role in lymphocyte transmigration across endothelial barriers.