Intracellular pathogens like Listeria exploit macrophages to cross endothelial barriers and spread systemically. Muenkel et al. show that exposure to infected macrophages weakens contractile forces within the endothelial monolayer and promotes macrophage transmigration. This response is driven by direct cell-cell interactions, with cytokines exerting only minor and transient effects.

Intracellular pathogens like Listeria exploit macrophages to cross endothelial barriers and spread systemically. Muenkel et al. show that exposure to infected macrophages weakens contractile forces wi...