title: InFlow microscopy of human leukocytes: A tool for quantitative analysis of actin rearrangements in the immune synapse.
abstract: The actin cytoskeleton is a main component to preserve the cell shape. It represents a cellular machinery that enables morphological changes and orchestrates important dynamic cellular functions. Thereby, it supports T-cell migration, immune synapse formation, activation and execution of effector functions. The analysis of actin rearrangements in T-cells is therefore an important field of basic and clinical research. Actin reorganization is traditionally performed using flow cytometry or confocal microscopy. However, while flow cytometry lacks spatial and structural information, confocal microscopy is time consuming and not feasible for the characterization of rare events or of un-purified primary cell populations. Here we describe a methodology to analyze actin rearrangements using InFlow microscopy, which is a hybrid technique consisting of flow cytometric and microscopic features. We show that InFlow microscopy is a valuable tool for quantification of the amount and distribution of F-actin in human T-cells after stimulation with chemokines or antigen-presenting cells.
authors: Institute for Immunology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: guido.wabnitz@immu.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors: Guido H
authors: GH
authors: Wabnitz
authors: Institute for Immunology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Anja
authors: A
authors: Nessmann
authors: Institute for Immunology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Henning
authors: H
authors: Kirchgessner
authors: Institute for Immunology, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Samstag
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins
keywords: Actin cytoskeleton; Imaging flow cytometry; Immune synapse; T-cells