title: A Markov chain characterization of human neutrophil locomotion under neutral and chemotactic conditions.
abstract: The locomotion of human neutrophils is modelled by a continuous-time Markov chain model consisting of five states: state O, where the cell is stationary, and four motile states whose directions are defined by the four quadrants of a Cartesian plane. In this paper, the Markov property is verified experimentally in special cases. Further experimental evidence for the model is provided by the waiting-time distributions in each of the five states, which are well approximated by exponential distributions. Using the steady-state distribution of the Markov chain as a measure of the ultimate motion of the cells, it is possible to detect the effect of known chemotactic agents upon neutrophil locomotion. Other useful parameters describing neutrophil locomotion are presented.
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement; D002633:Chemotaxis; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D008954:Models, Biological; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D011336:Probability; D013997:Time Factors