Migration and adhesion of lymphocytes cultured under low shear conditions

Mechanical forces have an important effect on lymphocyte migration and adhesion. Culturing Jurkat cells (a T lymphoblastoid cell line) in a low-shear environment has a profound effect on the migratory behavior of the cells, but no significant effect on their adhesion strength to fibronectin-coated surfaces. Using a 2-D cell migration assay, the authors determined that cells cultured in a low shear reactor system for 4-10 days had a significantly higher cell speed than cells cultured statically. Analysis of cell trajectories using the persistent random walk also revealed a higher RMS cell speed and random motility coefficient for cells cultured in the low shear reactor. One possible explanation for these differences is an increased integrin alpha-5 subunit expression on cells cultured in the low shear environment.