Heit Bryan, Kubes Paul
Immunology Research Group, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
Sci STKE. 2003 Feb 18;2003(170):PL5. doi: 10.1126/stke.2003.170.pl5.
Chemotaxis is the primary mechanism by which cell movements are directed within multicellular organisms, and it is a major component of embryonic development, wound healing, and immune responses. Chemotaxis involves a complex cascade of events--formation of signaling complexes, receptor polarization, adhesion molecule activation, and cytoskeletal reorganization. Previous assay methods were limited in several ways that reduced users' abilities to obtain quantitative data or to control conditions precisely. We describe a unique chemotactic assay that can incorporate multiple chemotactic gradients in different spatial and temporal combinations. In addition, this assay is easily adapted for live-cell imaging and fluorescent microscopy. With its relative simplicity, flexibility, and precision, this method is a key tool for the study of cellular chemotactic responses and the signaling processes underlying them.
趋化性是多细胞生物中细胞运动定向的主要机制，并且是胚胎发育、伤口愈合和免疫反应的主要组成部分。趋化性涉及一系列复杂的事件——信号复合物的形成、受体极化、黏附分子激活和细胞骨架重组。以前的检测方法在几个方面存在局限性，降低了用户获取定量数据或精确控制条件的能力。我们描述了一种独特的趋化性检测方法，该方法可以将多个趋化梯度以不同的空间和时间组合方式整合在一起。此外，这种检测方法很容易适用于活细胞成像和荧光显微镜检查。凭借其相对简单、灵活和精确的特点，该方法是研究细胞趋化反应及其潜在信号传导过程的关键工具。
