Why can't plasma proteins migrate from capillaries?
Cells of the endothelium are joined by tight cell junctions which are impermeable or selectively permeable. Generally, proteins can only migrate through the endothelium via active transcytosis.
Leukocytes (specifically neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes) express various adhesion molecules and cytokine receptors which allow them to interact with endothelial cells and facilitate their movement (diapedesis) either between (paracellular) or through (transcellular) the cells. The process of leukocytes leaving the endothelial lumen is known as extravasation.


Carman CV. 2009. Mechanisms for transcellular diapedesis: probing and pathfinding by `invadosome-like protrusions'. J Cell Sci 122:3025-3035.
(C,D) The process of diapedesis, whether during intravasation or extravasation, can occur by two distinct pathways: paracellular or transcellular. (C) Paracellular diapedesis. Leukocytes and endothelial cells coordinately disassemble endothelial cell-cell junctions and open up a gap between two or more endothelial cells (Muller, 2003). (D) Transcellular diapedesis. Leukocytes migrate directly through individual endothelial cells via a transient transcellular pore that leaves endothelial cell-cell junctions intact. Note that the two individual endothelial cells in C and D are distinguished by different shades of pink.