Neutrophil chemotaxis within a competing gradient of chemoattractants

Anal Chem. 2012 Jul 17;84(14):6070-8. doi: 10.1021/ac3009548. Epub 2012 Jun 28.

Abstract

The dynamics of neutrophil chemotaxis under competing chemoattractant gradients was studied using a microfluidic platform. This microfluidic platform, which establishes a stable and dynamic gradient of chemoattractants across a cell culture chamber, enabled the investigation of human neutrophil migration patterns in the presences of four different chemoattractants (leukotriene B(4), chemokine C-X-C motif ligands 2 and 8, and fMLP) and competing gradients of all pairwise combinations. The migration patterns for individual cells were tracked and quantitatively analyzed, and the results suggest a hierarchy among these chemoattractants of fMLP > CXCL8 > CXCL2 > leukotriene B(4). In all conditions, over 60% of neutrophils exposed to a competing gradient move toward the stronger signal though the weaker chemoattractant still influences neutrophil motility. These results yield insight about how each chemoattractant contributes to overall neutrophil chemotaxis within complex physiological environments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Chemotactic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Chemotaxis / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
  • N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / pharmacology
  • Neutrophils / cytology*
  • Neutrophils / drug effects*

Substances

  • Chemotactic Factors
  • N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine