diapedesoitumista

Diapedesis, also known as extravasation, is a critical process in the innate immune response. It refers to the movement of white blood cells, primarily neutrophils and monocytes, from the bloodstream into surrounding tissues. This migration is essential for the body to reach sites of infection or injury and combat pathogens or repair damaged cells.

The process begins with inflammation, which triggers the release of signaling molecules. These molecules cause the endothelial cells lining blood vessels to become "sticky," a phenomenon known as upregulation of adhesion molecules. White blood cells circulating in the blood then adhere to these activated endothelial cells. Following adhesion, the white blood cells flatten and squeeze between the endothelial cells, passing through the blood vessel wall.

This ability to exit the circulatory system allows phagocytic cells to reach areas where they are needed most. Once in the tissues, these cells can engulf and destroy bacteria, cellular debris, and other foreign material. Diapedesis is a tightly regulated and essential step in inflammatory and immune responses, playing a vital role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and defending against disease.