Figure 2.

Schematic representation of adhesion cascade within the hepatic sinusoids- The low shear environment allows selectin independent recruitment with a brief rolling step leading to firm adhesion. The final step is transmigration through the specialised endothelial layer. There are many factors which influence this process by modulating the expression, secretion and presentation of adhesion molecules and chemokines. It is becoming clear that the microenvironment plays a significant role and the cellular cross-talk between kupffer cells, hepatocytes, stellate cells and the endothelium allows paracrine interactions to alter the molecules expressed and presented.