1
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Strickland E, Pan D, Godfrey C, Kim JS, Hopke A, Ji W, Degrange M, Villavicencio B, Mansour MK, Zerbe CS, Irimia D, Amir A, Weiner OD. Self-extinguishing relay waves enable homeostatic control of human neutrophil swarming. Dev Cell 2024:S1534-5807(24)00381-2. [PMID: 38971157 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Neutrophils collectively migrate to sites of injury and infection. How these swarms are coordinated to ensure the proper level of recruitment is unknown. Using an ex vivo model of infection, we show that human neutrophil swarming is organized by multiple pulsatile chemoattractant waves. These waves propagate through active relay in which stimulated neutrophils trigger their neighbors to release additional swarming cues. Unlike canonical active relays, we find these waves to be self-terminating, limiting the spatial range of cell recruitment. We identify an NADPH-oxidase-based negative feedback loop that is needed for this self-terminating behavior. We observe near-constant levels of neutrophil recruitment over a wide range of starting conditions, revealing surprising robustness in the swarming process. This homeostatic control is achieved by larger and more numerous swarming waves at lower cell densities. We link defective wave termination to a broken recruitment homeostat in the context of human chronic granulomatous disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Strickland
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deng Pan
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christian Godfrey
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia S Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alex Hopke
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Wencheng Ji
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Maureen Degrange
- Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | | | - Michael K Mansour
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christa S Zerbe
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Irimia
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ariel Amir
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Physics of Complex Systems, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Orion D Weiner
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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2
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Town JP, Weiner OD. Local negative feedback of Rac activity at the leading edge underlies a pilot pseudopod-like program for amoeboid cell guidance. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002307. [PMID: 37747905 PMCID: PMC10553818 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
To migrate efficiently, neutrophils must polarize their cytoskeletal regulators along a single axis of motion. This polarization process is thought to be mediated through local positive feedback that amplifies leading edge signals and global negative feedback that enables sites of positive feedback to compete for dominance. Though this two-component model efficiently establishes cell polarity, it has potential limitations, including a tendency to "lock" onto a particular direction, limiting the ability of cells to reorient. We use spatially defined optogenetic control of a leading edge organizer (PI3K) to probe how neutrophil-like HL-60 cells balance "decisiveness" needed to polarize in a single direction with the flexibility needed to respond to new cues. Underlying this balancing act is a local Rac inhibition process that destabilizes the leading edge to promote exploration. We show that this local inhibition enables cells to process input signal dynamics, linking front stability and orientation to local temporal increases in input signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P. Town
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Orion D. Weiner
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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3
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Strickland E, Pan D, Godfrey C, Kim JS, Hopke A, Degrange M, Villavicencio B, Mansour MK, Zerbe CS, Irimia D, Amir A, Weiner OD. Self-extinguishing relay waves enable homeostatic control of human neutrophil swarming. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.27.546744. [PMID: 37425711 PMCID: PMC10327146 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.27.546744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Neutrophils exhibit self-amplified swarming to sites of injury and infection. How swarming is controlled to ensure the proper level of neutrophil recruitment is unknown. Using an ex vivo model of infection, we find that human neutrophils use active relay to generate multiple pulsatile waves of swarming signals. Unlike classic active relay systems such as action potentials, neutrophil swarming relay waves are self-extinguishing, limiting the spatial range of cell recruitment. We identify an NADPH-oxidase-based negative feedback loop that is needed for this self-extinguishing behavior. Through this circuit, neutrophils adjust the number and size of swarming waves for homeostatic levels of cell recruitment over a wide range of initial cell densities. We link a broken homeostat to neutrophil over-recruitment in the context of human chronic granulomatous disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Strickland
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deng Pan
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christian Godfrey
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Surgery, Innovation and Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia S Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Tetrad Graduate Program, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alex Hopke
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Surgery, Innovation and Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maureen Degrange
- Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | | | - Michael K Mansour
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christa S Zerbe
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (LCIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Irimia
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Surgery, Innovation and Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ariel Amir
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Complex Systems, Faculty of Physics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Orion D Weiner
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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4
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Liu Y, Ren X, Wu J, Wilkins JA, Lin F. T Cells Chemotaxis Migration Studies with a Multi-Channel Microfluidic Device. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1567. [PMID: 36295920 PMCID: PMC9611841 DOI: 10.3390/mi13101567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Immune surveillance is dependent on lymphocyte migration and targeted recruitment. This can involve different modes of cell motility ranging from random walk to highly directional environment-guided migration driven by chemotaxis. This study protocol describes a flow-based microfluidic device to perform quantitative multiplex cell migration assays with the potential to investigate in real time the migratory response of T cells at the population or single-cell level. The device also allows for subsequent in situ fixation and direct fluorescence analysis of the cells in the microchannel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, 30A Sifton Rd, 301 Allen Bldg, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Xiaoou Ren
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, 30A Sifton Rd, 301 Allen Bldg, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Jiandong Wu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - John A. Wilkins
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, University of Manitoba and Health Sciences Centre, 799 JBRC, 715 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P4, Canada
| | - Francis Lin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, 30A Sifton Rd, 301 Allen Bldg, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
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5
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Ren J, Wang N, Guo P, Fan Y, Lin F, Wu J. Recent advances in microfluidics-based cell migration research. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3361-3376. [PMID: 35993877 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00397j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cell migration is crucial for many biological processes, including normal development, immune response, and tissue homeostasis and many pathological processes such as cancer metastasis and wound healing. Microfluidics has revolutionized the research in cell migration since its inception as it reduces the cost of studies and allows precise manipulation of different parameters that affect cell migratory response. Over the past decade, the field has made great strides in many directions, such as techniques for better control of the cellular microenvironment, application-oriented physiological-like models, and machine-assisted cell image analysis methods. Here we review recent developments in the field of microfluidic cell migration through the following aspects: 1) the co-culture models for studying host-pathogen interactions at single-cell resolution; 2) the spatiotemporal manipulation of the chemical gradients guiding cell migration; 3) the organ-on-chip models to study cell transmigration; and 4) the deep learning image processing strategies for cell migration data analysis. We further discuss the challenges, possible improvement and future perspectives of using microfluidic techniques to study cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Ren
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Ning Wang
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China
| | - Piao Guo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yanping Fan
- School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, China
| | - Francis Lin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada.
| | - Jiandong Wu
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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6
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Kalashnikov N, Moraes C. Engineering physical microenvironments to study innate immune cell biophysics. APL Bioeng 2022; 6:031504. [PMID: 36156981 PMCID: PMC9492295 DOI: 10.1063/5.0098578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity forms the core of the human body's defense system against infection, injury, and foreign objects. It aims to maintain homeostasis by promoting inflammation and then initiating tissue repair, but it can also lead to disease when dysregulated. Although innate immune cells respond to their physical microenvironment and carry out intrinsically mechanical actions such as migration and phagocytosis, we still do not have a complete biophysical description of innate immunity. Here, we review how engineering tools can be used to study innate immune cell biophysics. We first provide an overview of innate immunity from a biophysical perspective, review the biophysical factors that affect the innate immune system, and then explore innate immune cell biophysics in the context of migration, phagocytosis, and phenotype polarization. Throughout the review, we highlight how physical microenvironments can be designed to probe the innate immune system, discuss how biophysical insight gained from these studies can be used to generate a more comprehensive description of innate immunity, and briefly comment on how this insight could be used to develop mechanical immune biomarkers and immunomodulatory therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Kalashnikov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0G4, Canada
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7
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Rocha-Gregg B, Huttenlocher A. Signal integration in forward and reverse neutrophil migration: Fundamentals and emerging mechanisms. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2021; 72:124-130. [PMID: 34411839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neutrophils migrate to sites of tissue damage, where they protect the host against pathogens. Often, the cost of these neutrophil defenses is collateral damage to healthy tissues. Thus, the immune system has evolved multiple mechanisms to regulate neutrophil migration. One of these mechanisms is reverse migration - the process whereby neutrophils leave the source of inflammation. In vivo, neutrophils arrive and depart the wound simultaneously - indicating that neutrophils dynamically integrate conflicting signals to engage in forward and reverse migration. This finding is seemingly at odds with the established chemoattractant hierarchy in vitro, which places wound-derived signals at the top. Here we will discuss recent work that has uncovered key players involved in retaining and dispersing neutrophils from wounds. These findings offer the opportunity to integrate established and emerging mechanisms into a holistic model for neutrophil migration in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana Rocha-Gregg
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anna Huttenlocher
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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8
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Richardson IM, Calo CJ, Hind LE. Microphysiological Systems for Studying Cellular Crosstalk During the Neutrophil Response to Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:661537. [PMID: 33986752 PMCID: PMC8111168 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.661537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are the primary responders to infection, rapidly migrating to sites of inflammation and clearing pathogens through a variety of antimicrobial functions. This response is controlled by a complex network of signals produced by vascular cells, tissue resident cells, other immune cells, and the pathogen itself. Despite significant efforts to understand how these signals are integrated into the neutrophil response, we still do not have a complete picture of the mechanisms regulating this process. This is in part due to the inherent disadvantages of the most-used experimental systems: in vitro systems lack the complexity of the tissue microenvironment and animal models do not accurately capture the human immune response. Advanced microfluidic devices incorporating relevant tissue architectures, cell-cell interactions, and live pathogen sources have been developed to overcome these challenges. In this review, we will discuss the in vitro models currently being used to study the neutrophil response to infection, specifically in the context of cell-cell interactions, and provide an overview of their findings. We will also provide recommendations for the future direction of the field and what important aspects of the infectious microenvironment are missing from the current models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laurel E. Hind
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado – Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
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9
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Abstract
Neutrophil chemotaxis plays a vital role in human immune system. Compared with traditional cell migration assays, the emergence of microfluidics provides a new research platform of cell chemotaxis study due to the advantages of visualization, precise control of chemical gradient, and small consumption of reagents. A series of microfluidic devices have been fabricated to study the behavior of neutrophils exposed on controlled, stable, and complex profiles of chemical concentration gradients. In addition, microfluidic technology offers a promising way to integrate the other functions, such as cell culture, separation and analysis into a single chip. Therefore, an overview of recent developments in microfluidic-based neutrophil chemotaxis studies is presented. Meanwhile, the strength and drawbacks of these devices are compared.
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10
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Qasaimeh MA, Pyzik M, Astolfi M, Vidal SM, Juncker D. Neutrophil Chemotaxis in Moving Gradients. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201700243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad A. Qasaimeh
- Biomedical Engineering Department; McGill University; Montréal QC H3A 0G1 Canada
- Division of Engineering; New York University Abu Dhabi; Abu Dhabi 129188 UAE
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; New York University; NY 11201 USA
| | - Michal Pyzik
- Department of Human Genetics; McGill University; Montréal QC H3G 0B1 Canada
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Brigham &Women's Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Mélina Astolfi
- Biomedical Engineering Department; McGill University; Montréal QC H3A 0G1 Canada
| | - Silvia M. Vidal
- Department of Human Genetics; McGill University; Montréal QC H3G 0B1 Canada
| | - David Juncker
- Biomedical Engineering Department; McGill University; Montréal QC H3A 0G1 Canada
- Genome Quebec Innovation Centre; McGill University; Montréal QC H3A 0G1 Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery; McGill University; Montréal QC H3A 1A4 Canada
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11
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Determining whether observed eukaryotic cell migration indicates chemotactic responsiveness or random chemokinetic motion. J Theor Biol 2017; 425:103-112. [PMID: 28501636 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemotaxis, the motion of cells directed by a gradient of chemoattractant molecules, guides cells in immune response, development, wound healing, and cancer. Unfortunately, this process is difficult to distinguish from chemokinesis, i.e., stimulated random cell motion. Chemotaxis is frequently inferred by determining how many cells cross a boundary in a chemotaxis assay, for example how many cells crawl into a chemoattractant-infused filter, or how many cells enter a defined region in an under-agarose assay or agarose spot assay. To mitigate possible ambiguity in whether motion observed in these assays is directed by the chemoattractant gradient or by chemokinesis, we developed a mathematical model to determine when such methods indeed indicate directed motion of cells. In contrast to previous analyses of chemotaxis assays, we report not just the gradients that arise in the assays but also resulting cell motion. We applied the model to data obtained from rigorous measurements and show, as examples, that MDA-MB-231 breast-cancer cells are at least 20 times less sensitive to gradients of EGF or CXCL12 than neutrophils are to formyl peptides; we then used this information to determine the extent to which gradient sensing increases the rate of boundary crossing relative to a random-motility control. Results show, for example, that in the filter assay, 2-4 times as many neutrophils pass through the filter when exposed to a gradient as when the gradient is absent. However, in the other combinations of cells and assays we considered, only 10-20% more cells are counted as having migrated in a directed, rather than random, motility condition. We also discuss the design of appropriate controls for these assays, which is difficult for the under-agarose and agarose spot assays. Moreover, although straightforward to perform with the filter assay, reliable controls are often not done. Consequently, we infer that chemotaxis is frequently over-reported, especially for cells like MDA-MB-231 cells, which move slowly and are relatively insensitive to gradients. Such results provide insights into the use of chemotaxis assays, particularly if one wants to acquire and analyze quantitative data.
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12
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Chandrasekaran A, Ellett F, Jorgensen J, Irimia D. Temporal gradients limit the accumulation of neutrophils towards sources of chemoattractant. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2017; 3:16067. [PMID: 28713624 PMCID: PMC5507070 DOI: 10.1038/micronano.2016.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Neutrophil trafficking during inflammation is a highly orchestrated process, coordinating neutrophil recruitment, sterilization of the wound, and inflammation resolution. Although the chemotactic signals guiding neutrophil recruitment to sites of inflammation are relatively well understood, mechanisms controlling cessation of neutrophil recruitment and return to normal tissue physiology remain undefined. To gain insights into these processes, we designed a microfluidic device with an array of chemoattractant reservoirs, which mimics the microenvironment in infected tissues, when multiple clusters of microbes are present. We monitored the temporal dynamics of neutrophil recruitment towards the chemoattractant reservoirs at single cell resolution, for 3 hours. We observed robust neutrophil recruitment that reached a plateau after 1.5 hours, despite the continuous presence of robust chemoattractant gradients around the reservoirs. The timing of the plateau was dependent on the geometry of the devices and was independent from the number of neutrophils. Based on these observations, we ruled out sub-population sensitivity, chemoattractant scavenging, and production of a self-limiting stop signal as potential mechanisms underpinning the plateau in neutrophil recruitment. We found a strong correlation between the temporal stabilization of concentration changes and the plateau in neutrophils recruitment. These results suggest that dynamic aspects of chemoattractant gradients are key for maximizing recruitment during the acute phase of infections and limiting the accumulation of neutrophils as soon as the infection is contained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Chandrasekaran
- Department of Surgery, BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Felix Ellett
- Department of Surgery, BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Julianne Jorgensen
- Department of Surgery, BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Daniel Irimia
- Department of Surgery, BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
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13
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Menachery A, Kumawat N, Qasaimeh MA. Merging orthogonal microfluidic flows to generate multi-profile concentration gradients. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ra09692e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This work describes a novel microfluidic device capable of generating multi-profile gradients that include sigmoidal, parabolic, and exponential concentration variations across its main channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Menachery
- Division of Engineering
- New York University Abu Dhabi
- Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates
| | - N. Kumawat
- Division of Engineering
- New York University Abu Dhabi
- Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates
| | - M. A. Qasaimeh
- Division of Engineering
- New York University Abu Dhabi
- Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
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14
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Nakajima A, Ishida M, Fujimori T, Wakamoto Y, Sawai S. The microfluidic lighthouse: an omnidirectional gradient generator. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:4382-4394. [PMID: 27735954 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00898d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Studies of chemotactic cell migration rely heavily on various assay systems designed to evaluate the ability of cells to move in response to attractant molecules. In particular, the development of microfluidics-based devices in recent years has made it possible to spatially distribute attractant molecules in graded profiles that are sufficiently stable and precise to test theoretical predictions regarding the accuracy and efficiency of chemotaxis and the underlying mechanism of stimulus perception. However, because the gradient is fixed in a direction orthogonal to the laminar flow and thus the chamber geometry, conventional devices are limited for the study of cell re-orientation to gradients that move or change directions. Here, we describe the development of a simple radially symmetric microfluidics device that can deliver laminar flow in 360°. A stimulant introduced either from the central inlet or by photo uncaging is focused into the laminar flow in a direction determined by the relative rate of regulated flow from multiple side channels. Schemes for flow regulation and an extended duplexed device were designed to generate and move gradients in desired orientations and speed, and then tested to steer cell migration of Dictyostelium and neutrophil-like HL60 cells. The device provided a high degree of freedom in the positioning and orientation of attractant gradients, and thus may serve as a versatile platform for studying cell migration, re-orientation, and steering.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Nakajima
- Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.
| | - M Ishida
- Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - T Fujimori
- Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Y Wakamoto
- Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan. and Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - S Sawai
- Research Center for Complex Systems Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan. and Department of Basic Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan and PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
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15
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Irimia D, Ellett F. Big insights from small volumes: deciphering complex leukocyte behaviors using microfluidics. J Leukoc Biol 2016; 100:291-304. [PMID: 27194799 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.5ru0216-056r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is an indispensable component of the immune response, and leukocytes provide the first line of defense against infection. Although the major stereotypic leukocyte behaviors in response to infection are well known, the complexities and idiosyncrasies of these phenotypes in conditions of disease are still emerging. Novel tools are indispensable for gaining insights into leukocyte behavior, and in the past decade, microfluidic technologies have emerged as an exciting development in the field. Microfluidic devices are readily customizable, provide tight control of experimental conditions, enable high precision of ex vivo measurements of individual as well as integrated leukocyte functions, and have facilitated the discovery of novel leukocyte phenotypes. Here, we review some of the most interesting insights resulting from the application of microfluidic approaches to the study of the inflammatory response. The aim is to encourage leukocyte biologists to integrate these new tools into increasingly more sophisticated experimental designs for probing complex leukocyte functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Irimia
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Division of Surgery, Innovation and Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Felix Ellett
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Division of Surgery, Innovation and Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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