Leukocyte Rolling, Adhesion, and Migration in a Single Assay!

Leukocytes play a key role in early response to tissue injury/infection resulting from physical, chemical or biological stimuli. This process involves the initiation of the leukocyte adhesion cascade mediated by a series of interactions between receptors and ligands on the endothelium and the leukocytes. Specifically, circulating leukocytes tether and roll along the vessel wall by establishing transient (selectin-mediated) interactions with endothelial cells followed by (integrin-mediated) firm adhesion with eventual migration across the endothelial cells to the extra-vascular space.

Typically assays rely on a flow chamber to investigate leukocyte rolling and adhesion, while Boyden/Transwell® chambers have been used for migration studies. Due to a lack of in vitro models that can in real-time characterize, rolling, adhesion and migration in a single assay, understanding of the adhesion cascade and the inflammatory processes has been hindered.

In a recently published study[1], Prof. Kiani’s group at Temple University used SynVivo® microfluidic chips comprising of realistic microvascular networks to demonstrate an assay that resolves and facilitates direct assessment of each individual step including rolling, adhesion, spreading and extravasation of the leukocytes into the extra-vascular tissue space.

This inflammation assay will have critical applications both in basic research, where it can be used to characterize the mechanisms of leukocyte adhesion cascade, and in drug discovery and delivery, where it can be used for development of anti-inflammatory compounds.

To find out more about this new cell-based  microchip platform check out the manufacture page for SynVivo.