Imaging and Mechanism of Leukocyte Recruitment and Function in Inflammation and Infections

Leukocytes, also known as white blood cells, are critical for immune defense and inflammatory regulation. Leukocytes includes lymphocytes, different subtype of T cells, B cells, and natural killing cells, as well as myeloid cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. The recruitment of leukocytes is vital to perform functions at the site of inflammation or infections. The recruitment of leukocytes includes many processes, such as the rolling and adhesion of circulating leukocytes to endothelial cells lining the blood vessel's inner wall, the transmigration from vessel’s inner wall to the tissue surrounding vessels, and migration in the tissues. Different leukocytes have multiple functions in regulating immune defense and inflammation. Microscopic imaging provides a powerful visualizing way to investigate leukocyte recruitment and functions.

This Research Topic aims to showcase recent investigations of leukocyte recruitment and functions using imaging and other techniques to provide an overview of the recruitment as well as leukocytes functions in different infectious or non-infectious diseases. We particularly welcome Original Research, Methods and Review articles falling under the following topics:

• Molecular mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment
• Drugs targeting leukocyte recruitment
• Intravital imaging of leukocyte recruitment
• Live cell imaging of leukocyte adhesion and migration
• Frontier imaging techniques in investigating leukocytes
• Leukocyte recruitment and function in infections
• Leukocyte recruitment and function in non-infectious inflammatory diseases