Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:

T Cell Types and Functions

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction. It is...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Nectin receptors mediate mechanosensing to YAP via AKT.

Communications biology·2026

Same author

CoCB cell signalling 2024.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026

Same author

A rapid method of evaluating cytotoxic drug efficacy using sub-cellular fluctuation imaging.

Scientific reports·2025

Same author

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors reduce vascular inflammation in vitro and in vivo.

British journal of pharmacology·2025

Same author

Sos1 ablation alters focal adhesion dynamics and increases Mmp2/9-dependent gelatinase activity in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Cell communication and signaling : CCS·2025

Same author

Pharmacological inhibition of ezrin reduces proliferative and invasive phenotype in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

European journal of pharmacology·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Real-Time In Vitro Migration Assay for Primary Murine CD8+ T Cells

Real-Time In Vitro Migration Assay for Primary Murine CD8+ T Cells

Published on: May 24, 2024

Multiple roles for RhoA during T cell transendothelial migration.

Sarah J Heasman¹, Anne J Ridley

¹Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics; King's College London; London, UK.

|June 21, 2011

Summary

The Rho GTPase RhoA is crucial for T-cell migration across endothelial barriers, regulating cell shape and movement. RhoA activity at the cell front and rear drives T-cell polarization, protrusion, and transmigration.

More Related Videos

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay

Published on: August 22, 2010

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Published on: March 25, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Real-Time In Vitro Migration Assay for Primary Murine CD8+ T Cells

Real-Time In Vitro Migration Assay for Primary Murine CD8+ T Cells

Published on: May 24, 2024

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay

RhoC GTPase Activation Assay

Published on: August 22, 2010

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Published on: March 25, 2016

Area of Science:

Immunology
Cell Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

T-cell migration across endothelial barriers is vital for immune surveillance and inflammatory responses.
This process involves T-cell adhesion, polarization, crawling, and transmigration, regulated by cytoskeletal dynamics.
Rho GTPases are key regulators of cell migration, controlling cytoskeletal organization and adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of the Rho GTPase RhoA in T-cell migration and transmigration across endothelial cells.
To determine the localization and activity of RhoA during T-cell crawling and transmigration.

Main Methods:

Depletion of RhoA in T cells.
Live imaging of T-cell migration on endothelial cells using a RhoA activity biosensor.
Analysis of T-cell morphology, polarization, and migratory behavior.

Main Results:

RhoA depletion impairs T-cell polarization, lamellipodia/uropod formation, and efficient migration on and through endothelial cells.
RhoA activity was detected in the lamellipodia, filopodia, and uropod of migrating and transmigrating T cells.
RhoA activity in lamellipodia correlated with both protrusion and retraction, suggesting dual roles.

Conclusions:

RhoA is essential for efficient T-cell polarization, migration, and transmigration.
RhoA signaling pathways, potentially involving mDIA1 for protrusion and ROCK for retraction, coordinate T-cell movement.
Specific guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) likely orchestrate localized RhoA activation for distinct migratory functions.