Analysis of the Motion of Cells Driven Along an Adhesive Surface by a Laminar Shear Flow

The experimental approach we shall describe consists of monitoring the motion of cells driven along adhesive surfaces by a hydrodynamic drag expected to be weaker than a single molecular bond. A quantitative analysis of this motion might thus give direct information on bond formation and rupture, since these events must cause detectable changes of cell velocity. Additional use of fluorescence-based methods may enhance the power of this experimental approach by allowing direct visualization of early cell signalling events. It must be emphasized that the use of low shear flow to monitor the interaction between individual cells was pioneered by Goldsmith with the travelling microtube technique (Goldsmith et al. 1981 and Chap. 10 in this book). Note that useful information was obtained with parallel-plate flow chambers used at higher shear rate than described in the present chapter (see e.g. Lawrence and Springer 1991).