In the early 1970's, the development of practical and routine methods for culturing endothelial cells radically altered this state of affairs and made possible a large number of experiments. All these studies did not include the partner of leukocyte transmigration, the endothelial cells. Last year, our group described for the first time an interesting static triple chamber assay to investigate the interaction of three type of cells simultaneously. Recently, our group described an interesting method to study leukocyte transmigration under static conditions using a modern 96-well rapid assay. Inflammation represents the consequence of capillary dilation with accumulation of fluid and transmigration of leukocytes into the surrounding tissue.
Leukocytes play a major role in the defense system of the body against invading microorganisms.
This defense system has a non-specific branch consisting of granulocytes and macrophages and a specific branch of lymphocytes. Granulocytes release cytotoxic compounds from their intracellular granules into their local environment when encountering microorganisms. This random destruction happens rapidly, but it may also harm healthy tissue of the body. Leukocytes patrol the body by circulating through the blood and lymphatic system ensuring a continuous surveillance which is a prerequisite for an efficient defense. Upon tissue damage and inflammation, leukocytes are recruited from the blood of sites of injury, and this trafficking displays exquisite specificity.