A new twist to the leukocyte adhesion cascade: intimate cooperation is key.
Leukocyte migration from blood into lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues requires a highly orchestrated series of adhesive and signaling events. A network of adhesion molecules with overlapping functions mediate the capture, rolling and firm adhesion of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium. A new study adds a novel twist to this paradigm by demonstrating that two adhesion molecules, CD44 and VLA-4, must be physically associated with each other on activated T cells to mediate efficient rolling and firm adhesion.
Steeber
Douglas A
DA
Department of Biological Sciences, Box 413, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. steeber@uwm.edu
Venturi
Guglielmo M
GM
Tedder
Thomas F
TF
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological
D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1