In Vitro and In Vivo Assays to Evaluate Dendritic Cell Phagocytic Capacity.

Phagocytosis is a process by which specific immune cells such as macrophages or dendritic cells engulf large particles. It is an important innate immune defense mechanism for removing a wide variety of pathogens and apoptotic cells. Following phagocytosis, nascent phagosomes are formed which, when fused to lysosome to become phagolysosome containing acidic proteases, will allow the degradation of ingested material. This chapter describes in vitro and in vivo assays to measure phagocytosis by murine dendritic cells using amine beads coupled with streptavidin Alexa 488. This protocol can also be applied to monitor phagocytosis in human dendritic cells.