Leukocyte rolling on P-selectin: a three-dimensional numerical study of the effect of cytoplasmic viscosity.

ABSTRACT: Rolling leukocytes deform and show a large area of contact with endothelium under physiological flow conditions. We studied the effect of cytoplasmic viscosity on leukocyte rolling using our three-dimensional numerical algorithm that treats leukocyte as a compound droplet in which the core phase (nucleus) and the shell phase (cytoplasm) are viscoelastic fluids. The algorithm includes the mechanical properties of the cell cortex by cortical tension and considers leukocyte microvilli that deform viscoelastically and form viscous tethers at supercritical force. Stochastic binding kinetics describes binding of adhesion molecules. The leukocyte cytoplasmic viscosity plays a critical role in leukocyte rolling on an adhesive substrate. High-viscosity cells are characterized by high mean rolling v

SUBMITTER: Khismatullin DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3328691 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature