A quantitative microassay for leukocyte chemotaxis, using a microscopic slide system with complement-activating yeast particles as gradient source.
A simple quantitative microassay was developed for studying polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) chemotaxis under conditions where the number of available cells is a limiting factor, e.g., pustules, neutropenia, small children and cerebrospinal fluid. PMNL suspensions are placed on glass slides to which fluorescein-labeled yeast particles have been fixed. After adherence, normal human serum is added to the slides. Owing to complement activation, a chemotactic gradient which attracts the adherent PMNL is formed around the yeast particles. The number of PMNL-associated yeast particles in the presence of normal serum is scored, and compared with cells migrating in the presence of inactivated serum or in the absence of serum. A locomotory index is calculated as the number of yeast particles associated with PMNL divided by the total number of yeast particles.
D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D002648:Child; D003167:Complement Activation; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000502:physiology*; D012685:Sepharose
D012685:Sepharose