Boyarsky A, Noble P B
Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1977 Feb;55(1):1-6. doi: 10.1139/y77-001.
The locomotion of human neutrophils is modelled by a continuous-time Markov chain model consisting of five states: state O, where the cell is stationary, and four motile states whose directions are defined by the four quadrants of a Cartesian plane. In this paper, the Markov property is verified experimentally in special cases. Further experimental evidence for the model is provided by the waiting-time distributions in each of the five states, which are well approximated by exponential distributions. Using the steady-state distribution of the Markov chain as a measure of the ultimate motion of the cells, it is possible to detect the effect of known chemotactic agents upon neutrophil locomotion. Other useful parameters describing neutrophil locomotion are presented.
