title: Lymphocyte electrotaxis in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Electric fields are generated in vivo in a variety of physiologic and pathologic settings, including penetrating injury to epithelial barriers. An applied electric field with strength within the physiologic range can induce directional cell migration (i.e., electrotaxis) of epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and neutrophils suggesting a potential role in cell positioning during wound healing. In the present study, we investigated the ability of lymphocytes to respond to applied direct current (DC) electric fields. Using a modified Transwell assay and a simple microfluidic device, we show that human PBLs migrate toward the cathode in physiologically relevant DC electric fields. Additionally, electrical stimulation activates intracellular kinase signaling pathways shared with chemotactic stimuli. Finally, video microscopic tracing of GFP-tagged immunocytes in the skin of mouse ears reveals that motile cutaneous T cells actively migrate toward the cathode of an applied DC electric field. Lymphocyte positioning within tissues can thus be manipulated by externally applied electric fields, and may be influenced by endogenous electrical potential gradients as well.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology and Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. flin2@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldessari
authors.forename: Christina Crenguta
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gyenge
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Eugene C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Butcher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D044085:Microfluidics; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000276:immunology