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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
08:24
Imaging Molecular Adhesion in Cell Rolling by Adhesion Footprint Assay
Published on: September 27, 2021
Selectin catch-slip kinetics encode shear threshold adhesive behavior of rolling leukocytes
Michael T Beste1, Daniel A Hammer
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Summary
Selectin catch bonds, crucial for leukocyte adhesion, show unique force-lifetime dynamics. This study reveals how these "catch-slip" interactions explain shear-dependent cell rolling during inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Selectins mediate leukocyte rolling during inflammation.
- The force-lifetime relationship of selectin-ligand bonds exhibits a "catch-slip" transition.
- This transition influences shear threshold phenomena in cell adhesion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how P- and L-selectin catch bond kinetics influence cell adhesion patterns.
- To develop a generalized model predicting shear threshold behavior based on molecular force spectra.
- To link single-molecule biophysics to macroscopic cellular behavior in leukocyte adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Adhesive dynamics simulations.
- Biomembrane force probe measurements of P- and L-selectin catch bonds.
- Development of a generalized phase map using phenomenological parameters.
Main Results:
- Simulations accurately predicted in vitro cell adhesion patterns based on biomembrane force probe data.
- A generalized phase map demonstrated that efficient force-stabilization of receptor complexes is critical for shear-threshold behavior.
- A quantitative relationship was derived to predict shear threshold magnitude from force spectra.
Conclusions:
- Selectin catch bond "catch-slip" dynamics are key determinants of leukocyte adhesion patterns.
- The study provides a framework for predicting shear threshold behavior from molecular force properties.
- This work bridges single-molecule biophysics and macroscopic cell adhesion phenomena.
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