title: An introduction to the wound healing assay using live-cell microscopy.
abstract: The wound healing assay is used in a range of disciplines to study the coordinated movement of a cell population. In this technical review, we describe the workflow of the wound healing assay as monitored by optical microscopy. Although the assay is straightforward, a lack of standardization in its application makes it difficult to compare results and reproduce experiments among researchers. We recommend general guidelines for consistency, including: (1) sample preparation including the creation of the gap, (2) microscope equipment requirements, (3) image acquisition, and (4) the use of image analysis to measure the gap size and its rate of closure over time. We also describe parameters that are specific to the particular research question, such as seeding density and matrix coatings. All of these parameters must be carefully controlled within a given set of experiments in order to achieve accurate and reproducible results.
authors.affiliation: a Advanced Optical Microscopy Facility ; University Health Network ; Toronto , ON Canada.
authors.forename: James E N
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jonkman
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cathcart
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Miria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bartolini
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Amon
authors.forename: Katarzyna M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Pina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colarusso
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: DIC; ECM, extracellular matrix; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; NA, numerical aperture; collective cell migration; differential interference contrast; live-cell microscopy; physical exclusion assay; scratch assay; sheet migration; wound healing assay