Rapid leukocyte migration by integrin-independent flowing and squeezing
Open accessAbstract
All metazoan cells carry transmembrane receptors of the integrin family, which couple the contractile force of the actomyosin cytoskeleton to the extracellular environment. In agreement with this principle, rapidly migrating leukocytes use integrin-mediated adhesion when moving over two-dimensional surfaces. As migration on two-dimensional substrates naturally overemphasizes the role of adhesion, the contribution of integrins during three-dimensional movement of leukocytes within tissues has remained controversial. We studied the interplay between adhesive, contractile and protrusive forces during interstitial leukocyte chemotaxis in vivo and in vitro. We ablated all integrin heterodimers from murine leukocytes, and show here that functional integrins do not contribute to migration in three-dimensional environments. Instead, these cells migrate by the sole force of actin-network expansion, which promotes protrusive flowing of the leading edge. Myosin II-dependent contraction is only required on passage through narrow gaps, where a squeezing contraction of the trailing edge propels the rigid nucleus.
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DC entry into initial LVs in the absence of inflammation is independent of integrins and their ligands.
“In contrast, DC entry into initial LVs in the absence of inflammation, an event considered important in the induction of peripheral T cell tolerance of self, is independent of integrins and their ligands (111).”
From Transport and Immune Functions of the Lymphatic System. (2025) · cites this paper as [111]
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- Authors
- Lämmermann, T., Bader, B. L., Monkley, S. J., Worbs, T., Wedlich-Söldner, R., Hirsch, K., Keller, M., Förster, R., Critchley, D. R., Fässler, R., & Sixt, M.
- Affiliations
- Max Planck Society (DE)
- Technical University of Munich (DE)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Sixt, Michael
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2008-05
- Volume
- 453
- Issue
- 7191
- Pages
- 51-55
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2035538295
- Cited by
- 1,397
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 43 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 61 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 65 · 2021: 95 · 2020: 80 · 2019: 81 · 2018: 92 · 2017: 72 · 2016: 92 · 2015: 86 · 2014: 84 · 2013: 92 · 2012: 72
- FWCI
- 38.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- other-oa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
- mediaTUM – the media and publications repository of the Technical University Munich (Technical University Munich) (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- OpenAgrar (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling
- Keywords
- leukocyte migration, integrins, three-dimensional cell migration, actomyosin contractility, cell adhesion
- MeSH terms
- Actins, Animals, Cell Adhesion, Cell Movement, Cell Nucleus, Chemotaxis, Dendritic Cells, Leukocytes, Lymph Nodes, Time Factors, Integrins, Myosin Type II, Cell Shape, Mice
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