Leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions - Lessons from knockout mice

The avent of gene targeting has led to the generation of several mouse stra ins deficient in select leukocyte adhesion receptors. These strains of mice have been very informative about the roles of cell adhesion molecules in l eukocyte-endothelium interaction and have produced some surprises: roles fo r leukocyte adhesion receptors have been demonstrated in development as wel l as pathologies like obesity, and evidence for functional synergies betwee n adhesion receptors have been provided. We attempt in this review to first outline the technique of gene targeting and give an overview of leukocyte adhesion receptors and mice deficient in these receptors. Second, we discus s models of experimental glomerulonephritis and what we have learned about leukocyte adhesion receptors in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis thro ugh studies in knockout mice.