Abstract
A theory is developed for the aggregation rate of cells in uniform shear flow when the cell-cell adhesion is mediated by bonds between specific molecules on the cell surfaces such as antigen and antibody or lectin and carbohydrate. The theory is based on estimates of the frequency and duration of cell-cell collisions and of the number of bonds formed and required to hold the cells together. For high shear rates, the sticking probability is a function of a single dimensionless parameter,A, that is proportional toG −2, withG the shear rate. For low shear rates, the sticking probability is a function of a second dimensionless parameter,A′≈G−1. In either case the rate of cell-cell sticking is a maximum whenA (orA′)∼-1.0. For small values ofA (orA′) the cells collide frequently, but do not stick, whereas for large values ofA (orA′) the cells collide infrequently, but stick with larger probability. Studies in a Couette viscometer or other flow having approximately uniform shear can test these models.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bell, G. I. (1978),Science 200, 618.
Bell, G. I. (1979),Cell Biophys. 1, 133.
Curtis, A. S. G. (1969),Embryol. Exptl. Morph. 22, 305.
Evans, C. W., and Proctor, J. (1978),J. Cell Sci. 33, 17.
Von Smoluchowski, M. (1916),Physik Z. 17, 585.
Dembo, M., Goldstein, B., Sobotka, A. K., and Lichtenstein, L. M. (1979),J. Immunol. 122, 518.
Bell, G. I. (1979), inPhysical Chemical Aspects of Cell Surface Events in Cellular Regulation (Delisi, C., and Blumenthal, R., eds.) Elsevier/North Holland, New York.
Capo, C., Garrouste, F., Benoliel, A. M., Bongrand, P., Ryter, A., and Bell, G., manuscript submitted.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bell, G.I. Estimate of the sticking probability for cells in uniform shear flow with adhesion caused by specific bonds. Cell Biochem Biophys 3, 289–304 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02782629
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02782629
Index Entries
- Sticking probability, of specifically bonded cells
- probability, sticking, of specifically bonded cells
- cell sticking probability, of specifically bonded cells
- bonds between cells, and sticking probability
- flow, uniform shear, cell sticking probability in
- shear flow, uniform, cell sticking probability in
- Couette viscometer, in cell sticking probability studies
- viscometer, in cell sticking probability studies
- adhesion, cell-cell
- aggregation, of cells