Tráfico leucocitario: mecanismos e impacto clínico

Abstract

Leukocyte trafficking is the highly regulated process by which immune cells migrate between the vascular system and tissues. They perform immune surveillance functions under conditions of homeostasis and facilitate inflammatory responses in the event of injury or infection, promoting the elimination of harmful agents and contributing to tissue repair. The regulation of this traffic depends on local signals that induce changes in the capillary system, facilitating leukocyte adhesion and extravasation through the leukocyte adhesion cascade, which is mediated by adhesion molecules on the cell surface of leukocytes and vascular cells. This update will review the set of chemotactic signals that attract leukocytes to the site of injury and the pathological implications of leukocyte trafficking dysregulation as well as provide an update regarding their relationship to aging and the pharmacological treatments that regulate it.