Monocyte haptotaxis induced by the RANTES chemokine.
BACKGROUND
Soluble mediators and inducible cell-surface molecules coordinate the ordered cascade of events giving rise to inflammation. The specific mechanisms underlying the attraction of antigen-specific cells into a site of inflammation remain sketchy, however. In particular, it is unclear how chemoattractants cause rapidly moving immune cells to adhere to the blood vessel wall and to enter inflamed tissues.


RESULTS
Here we show that RANTES, a potent chemo-attractant for monocytes and T lymphocytes, is inducibly expressed within an inflamed organ, binds to endothelial cells, and promotes haptotaxis, the migration of cells induced by surface-bound gradients.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings lead us to propose a model for the role of RANTES in the migration of antigen-specific immune cells into an inflammatory site.
Wiedermann
C J
CJ
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Kowald
E
E
Reinisch
N
N
Kaehler
C M
CM
von Luettichau
I
I
Pattison
J M
JM
Huie
P
P
Sibley
R K
RK
Nelson
P J
PJ
Krensky
A M
AM