Shear flow-driven actin re-organization induces ICAM-1 nanoclustering on endothelial cells that impact T-cell migration

The leukocyte specific β-integrin LFA-1, and its ligand ICAM-1 expressed on endothelial cells (ECs), are involved in the arrest, adhesion and transendothelial migration of leukocytes. Although the role of mechanical forces on LFA-1 activation is well established, the impact of forces on its major ligand ICAM-1, has received less attention. Using a parallel-plate flow chamber combined with confocal and super-resolution microscopy, we show that prolonged shear-flow induces a global translocation of ICAM-1 on ECs upstream of flow direction. Interestingly, shear-forces promoted ICAM-1 nanoclustering prior to LFA-1 engagement. This spatial nanoscale organization was driven by actin cytoskeleton re-arrangements induced by shear-force. We further assessed the impact of prolonged shear-stress EC stimulation on T cell migration. T cells adhered to mechanically pre-stimulated ECs developed a more pro-migratory phenotype, migrated faster and exhibited shorter EC interactions than when adhered to non-mechanically stimulated ECs. Together, our results indicate that shear-forces increase the number of ICAM-1/LFA-1 bonds due to ICAM-1 nanoclustering, strengthening adhesion and thereby reducing actin retrograde flow of T-cells, leading to their increased migration speed. Our data also underscores the importance of mechanical forces regulating the spatial organization of cell membrane receptors and their contribution to adhesion regulation, regardless of integrin activation.