Migration of leukocytes is essential for the induction, maintenance, and regulation of immune responses. On their trafficking routes, leukocytes encounter microenvironments of diverse mechanochemical composition, such as epithelial sheets, fibrillar networks, and cell-dense lymphatic organs. These microenvironments impose fundamental challenges on leukocytes, which include adhesive crawling under high shear stress, extreme cellular deformation while crossing physical barriers, and pathfinding in maze-like 3D environments. Crossing these microenvironments in a fast and efficient manner is a hallmark of leukocyte biology. We review the underlying cell biological principles and molecular mechanisms. By integrating knowledge from physiological in vivo and reductionistic in vitro approaches, we developed a holistic view of leukocyte migration strategies, including misregulation in disease and mechanistic hijacking by tumor cells.

白细胞的迁移对于诱导，维持和调节免疫反应至关重要。在其运输路线上，白细胞会遇到各种机械化学组成的微环境，例如上皮层，纤维状网络和细胞密集的淋巴器官。这些微环境给白细胞带来了根本性的挑战，包括在高剪切应力下黏着剂爬行，越过物理障碍时发生极端的细胞变形以及在迷宫般的3D环境中寻路。快速有效地穿越这些微环境是白细胞生物学的标志。我们回顾了潜在的细胞生物学原理和分子机制。通过整合来自体内生理学和体外还原学的知识 的方法，我们提出了白细胞迁移策略的整体观点，包括疾病中的失调和肿瘤细胞的机械劫持。