Diapyesis is a term commonly used in the field of medicine, specifically in hematology, to describe the process of the migration or movement of white blood cells (leukocytes) from blood vessels to the tissues. It refers to the movement of these cells by squeezing or passing through the endothelial lining of blood vessels and entering the surrounding tissues.
The term "diapyesis" is derived from the Greek words "dia," meaning through, and "pyesis," meaning passage or migration. This process is an essential part of the immune response and plays a crucial role in the body's defense mechanism against foreign substances, infections, and inflammation.
During diapyesis, white blood cells, including lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes, undergo a series of complex interactions and cellular changes that enable them to adhere to the endothelial lining, traverse through it, and ultimately migrate into the affected area.
By migrating to the tissues, leukocytes can actively participate in the immune response, fighting off pathogens, removing cellular debris, and promoting repair and healing. Diapyesis occurs as a result of chemical signaling between the blood vessels and the leukocytes that trigger changes in adhesion molecules and cytoskeletal components of the cells, allowing them to undergo this unique migration process.
Diapyesis is a fundamental biological process that contributes to immune surveillance and tissue integrity, and its dysregulation or impairment can have significant implications for human health, including increased susceptibility to infections, chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and impaired wound healing.
