Final answer:
In the inflammation process, neutrophils roll along the vascular endothelium, bind chemokines that activate integrins for firm adhesion, squeeze through endothelial cells in a process known as diapedesis, and migrate toward infection sites through chemotaxis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of inflammation involves a series of steps that allow neutrophils to engage with the vascular endothelium and migrate toward an infection site. Initially, neutrophils slow down and roll along the vascular endothelium, a process facilitated by the interaction of selectins on the endothelium with carbohydrates on the neutrophil, enabling them to adhere temporarily.
During the next stage, the binding of the chemokine CXCL8 to its receptor on the neutrophil activates integrins (such as LFA-1 and CR3) on the surface of the neutrophil. These activated integrins can establish tight binding with adhesion molecules like ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 located on the vascular endothelium.
The third step is known as diapedesis, where the leukocyte squeezes between neighboring endothelial cells and enters the tissue. Finally, neutrophils migrate along a concentration gradient of chemical attractants, a process referred to as chemotaxis, moving toward the source of the infection.