LEUCOCYTE RECRUITMENT UNDER FLUID SHEAR: MECHANICAL AND MOLECULAR REGULATION WITHIN THE INFLAMMATORY SYNAPSE

Nature has evolved an exquisite system for regulation of leucocyte recruitment at sites of tissue inflammation. Mechanical energy translated to the red and white blood cells transports them from large arteries down to the microcirculation. Neutrophils overcome the drag forces of blood flow by forming selectin and integrin adhesive bonds with the endothelium that coats the vessel wall. Leucocyte adhesion receptors have evolved unique mechanical and chemical properties that optimize for sequential binding and uptake of traction forces. In the present brief review, we address how dispersive forces acting on a neutrophil in shear flow function to stabilize and synchronize bond formation within a macromolecular membrane complex we denote the inflammatory synapse.