Flow-Enhanced Stability of Rolling Adhesion through E-Selectin.

Selectin-ligand interactions mediate tethering and rolling of circulating leukocytes on the vessel wall during inflammation. Extensive study has been devoted to elucidating the kinetic and mechanical constraints of receptor-ligand-interaction-mediated leukocyte adhesion, yet many questions remain unanswered. Here, we describe our design of an inverted flow chamber to compare adhesions of HL-60 cells to E-selectin in the upright and inverted orientations.

Triphasic force dependence of E-selectin/ligand dissociation governs cell rolling under flow.

During inflammation, flowing leukocytes tether to and roll on vascular surfaces through the association and dissociation of selectin/ligand bonds. The interactions of P- and L- selectins with their respective ligands exhibit catch-slip bonds, such that increasing force initially prolongs and then shortens bond lifetimes. In addition, catch-slip bonds have been shown to govern L-selectin-mediated cell rolling.