Leukocytes and endothelium interaction as rate limiting step in the inflammatory response and a key factor in the ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Leukocyte-endothelium interactions play a key role in regulation of the inflammatory response, leukocytes migration and ischaemia-reperfusion injury. These adhesive reactions controlling the circulation of leukocytes, are key parts of immune surveillance arising from extravasation of neutrophils, and migration into tissue to eliminate invading microorganism. They also play important role in the generation of ischaemic-reperfusion injury of different organs including brain. Plasma levels of soluble adhesion molecules may be a diagnostic marker of the systemic endothelial injury. It is likely that the next few years bring new therapies to control leukocyte-endothelial interaction by directly inhibiting the adhesion molecules or by modulating their expression.