Active participation of endothelial cells in inflammation

Leukocyte migration from the blood into tissues is vital for immune surveillance and inflammation. During this diapedesis of leukocytes, the leukocytes bind to endothelial cell adhesion molecules and then migrate across the vascular endothelium. Endothelial cell adhesion molecules and their counter‐receptors on leukocytes generate intracellular signals. This review focuses on the active function of endothelial cells during leukocyte‐endothelial cell interactions. We include a discussion of the “outside‐in” signals in endothelial cells, which are stimulated by antibody cross‐linking or leukocyte binding to platelet‐endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1. Some of these signals in endothelial cells have been demonstrated to actively participate in leukocyte migration. We suggest that some of the adhesion molecule signals, which have not been assigned a function, are consistent with signals that stimulate retraction of lateral junctions, stimulate endothelial cell basal surface adhesion, or induce gene expression.