Leukocyte Locomotion and Chemotaxis: 1st International Conference on Leukocyte Locomotion and Chemotaxis, Gersau, May 16–21, 1982(12 Agents and Actions Supplements)

Ten years ago interest in leukocyte chemotaxis was restricted to a relatively small group of scientists whose interests were quite circumscribed. In the past decade both the number of workers and their publications has grown at some­ thing approaching an exponential rate and, more importantly, the field has gradually expanded to encompass a large number of diverse areas (mediators, receptors, cell effector mechanisms, regulatory factors, etc.). It is now apparent that leukocytes are particularly useful for studies of the locomotory behavior of all cell types and of mechanisms controlling cell movement and orientation. Chemotactic factors, once discovered as substan­ ces able to induce directional migration in leukocytes, are now recognized as potent stimulators of a variety of cell functions. Based on our knowledge in the field of basic research in leuko­ cyte chemotaxis, clinical observations in combination with ex­ perimental studies in vivo have provided new insights into the role of leukocyte-mediator interactions. The recognition that a specific interaction between chemotactic factor and leukocyte can lead to a multitude of cellular responses and products has opened up a broad area of study. The diversity of contributions to this volume based on a conference which was held in May 1982 in Gersau, Switzerland, reflects this development and demonstra­ tes that leukocyte chemotaxis continues to be an area of fasci­ nating and highly active research.

Table of Contents:
I. Behavioural Responses.- Characterising a kinesis response: Time averaged measures of cell speed and directional persistence.- Measurement of phenomenological parameters for leukocyte motility and chemotaxis.- Shape, motility and locomotor responses of neutrophil granulocytes.- Adhesion and the locomotion of neutrophils on surfaces and in matrices.- Contact guidance of locomotion of human leukocytes.- Adherence and regulation of leukotaxis.- Binding characteristics of the complement peptides C3a and C5a-desArg to cellulose nitrate filters in Boyden chambers.- Chemotaxis of tumor cells.- II. Mediators.- The role of leukotriene B4 as a mediator of leukocyte function.- On the biological role of lipid chemotactic factors.- Effects of bradykinin, some of its fragments, kallidin and various synthetic analogs on rat PMN chemotactic responsiveness.- Biological and chemical characterization of eosinophil chemotactic factors from human leukocytes.- Mediators and modulators of human lymphocyte chemotaxis.- In vitro and in vivo effects of anti-tumor antibody covalently coupled to a chemotactic peptide.- III. Receptors.- The C5a receptor of neutrophils and macrophages.- Cytotaxin receptors on human neutrophils: Modulation of C5a and peptide receptor number.- Dynamics of human neutrophil receptors for the chemoattractant fMet-Leu-Phe.- Cellular processing of the formyl peptide receptor.- Chemoattractant receptor affinity reflects its ability to transducer different biological responses.- IV. Transduction and Effector Mechanisms.- Some early ionic events in neutrophil activation by chemotactic factors.- Calcium movements and protein phosphorylation in chemotactically stimulated neutrophils.- The relationship between the transient cAMP peak and various leukocyte responses.- Exocytosis induced in neutrophils by chemotactic agents and other stimuli.- Lung injury secondary to chemotactic factor-induced leukocyte activation.- V. Abnormal Locomotion and Chemotaxis.- Clinical disorders of phagocyte locomotion.- The effect of the local anesthetic tetracaine on the migration of guinea pig granulocytes.- VI. E.L. Becker: Summary.- VII. Subject Index.