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α4-integrin-VCAM-1 binding mediates G protein–independent capture of encephalitogenic T cell blasts to CNS white matter microvessels

2001; American Society for Clinical Investigation; Volume: 108; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1172/jci12440

1558-8238

Peter Vajkoczy, Melanie Laschinger, Britta Engelhardt,

Phagocytosis and Immune Regulation

Direct in vivo evidence is still lacking for alpha4-integrin-mediated T cell interaction with VCAM-1 on blood-brain barrier-endothelium in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). To investigate a possible alpha4-integrin-mediated interaction of encephalitogenic T cell blasts with VCAM-1 on the blood-brain barrier white matter endothelium in vivo, we have developed a novel spinal cord window preparation that enabled us to directly visualize CNS white matter microcirculation by intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy. Our study provides the first in vivo evidence that encephalitogenic T cell blasts interact with the spinal cord white matter microvasculature without rolling and that alpha4-integrin mediates the G protein-independent capture and subsequently the G protein-dependent adhesion strengthening of T cell blasts to microvascular VCAM-1.