Developing an In Vitro Model for Exploring Lymphocyte Chemotaxis

Abstract

In developing an in vitro method for studying lymphocyte chemotaxis, testing began with the standard assays (i.e. modified Boyden) used with other leukocytes. These techniques were found to give significant yet limited information. For example, the visual aspects of directed migration were neglected. Of these assays, the radiolabel ( ⁵¹Cr)/ double-filter method was most precise and easiest to perform. The preferred method, however, was discovered to be an under-agarose one that permitted determinations of cellular distributions, cytoplasmic orientations, migration distances and paths. Cell interactions observed in Zigmond chambers complemented these studies by making the observation of intercellular interference possible. The lower chemotropism indices found for lymphocytes may be explained by this phenomenon. Besides refining the technical requirements for a more sensitive in vitro assay, future studies will concentrate on the chemotactic profile of lymphocyte sub-populations.