Contraction waves in lymphocyte locomotion

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
It is proposed that the constriction ring, a prominent feature of moving leukocytes, is a major source of locomotive force. Analysis of time-lapse films of lymphocytes in suspension and moving through 3-dimensional collagen gels demonstrated that the constriction ring was the morphological manifestation of a wave of circular contraction that moved antero-posteriorly. In lymphocytes in suspension the wave moved, although the cells did no. Analysis of lymphocytes moving through a collagen gel revealed that the waves remained stationary with respect to the external environment while the cell appeared to move forward through them. Passage of a single equatorial contraction wave resulted in cell lengthening: a shortening of the region posterior to the constriction was observed in cells moving through collagen gels, but not in lymphocytes held in suspension, suggesting that attachment of cells to the collagen network was necessary for longitudinal contraction. Lymphocyte attachment to collagen gels was mediated through the rapid extension of bleb-like structures into the collagen network. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) failed to demonstrate any organized structure at the constriction ring. NBD-Phallacidin staining of lymphocytes together with TEM demonstrated that F-actin was distributed evenly throughout the length of the cell. Cell polarity was clearly recognizable by the distribution of coated vesicles, microvilli, and all organelles to the rear, and Thy 1-2 to the front, of motile cells, but polarity could be reversed by the passage of a single contraction wave starging at the rear of the cell, without prior redistribution of these structures.