The direction of migration of T-lymphocytes under flow depends upon which adhesion receptors are engaged

Integr Biol (Camb). 2015 Mar;7(3):345-55. doi: 10.1039/c4ib00201f. Epub 2015 Feb 12.

Abstract

T-lymphocyte migration is important for homing, cell trafficking, and immune surveillance. T-lymphocytes express lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1; αLβ2) and very late antigen-4 (VLA-4; α4β1), which bind to their cognate ligands, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). These adhesive interactions provide T-lymphocytes with the ability to withstand hemodynamic shear forces to facilitate adhesion and migration along the blood endothelium. Recently, it has been shown that T-lymphocytes will crawl upstream against the direction of flow on surfaces functionalized with ICAM-1. Here, we have investigated whether the identity of the receptor and the magnitude of its engagement affects the direction of T-lymphocyte migration under flow. We used microcontact printed ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 PDMS surfaces on which density and type of adhesion molecule can be tightly controlled and non-specific adhesion adequately blocked. Using a laminar flow chamber, we demonstrate that T-lymphocytes migrate either upstream or downstream dependent upon ligand type, ligand concentration and shear rate. T-lymphocytes were found to migrate upstream on ICAM-1 but downstream on VCAM-1 surfaces - a behavior unique to T-lymphocytes. By varying concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, directed migration under flow was observed to be dependent upon the type and concentration of ligand. As shear rates increase, T-lymphocytes favor upstream migration when any ICAM-1 is present, even in the presence of substantial amounts of VCAM-1. Furthermore, a loss of cytoskeletal polarity was observed upon introduction of fluid flow with reorganization that is dependent upon ligand presentation. These results indicate that T-lymphocytes exhibit two different modes of motility - upstream or downstream - under fluid flow that depends on ligand composition and the shear rate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Blood Flow Velocity / physiology*
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism*
  • Shear Strength / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1