1
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Van Os L, Engelhardt B, Guenat OT. Integration of immune cells in organs-on-chips: a tutorial. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1191104. [PMID: 37324438 PMCID: PMC10267470 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1191104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral and bacterial infections continue to pose significant challenges for numerous individuals globally. To develop novel therapies to combat infections, more insight into the actions of the human innate and adaptive immune system during infection is necessary. Human in vitro models, such as organs-on-chip (OOC) models, have proven to be a valuable addition to the tissue modeling toolbox. The incorporation of an immune component is needed to bring OOC models to the next level and enable them to mimic complex biological responses. The immune system affects many (patho)physiological processes in the human body, such as those taking place during an infection. This tutorial review introduces the reader to the building blocks of an OOC model of acute infection to investigate recruitment of circulating immune cells into the infected tissue. The multi-step extravasation cascade in vivo is described, followed by an in-depth guide on how to model this process on a chip. Next to chip design, creation of a chemotactic gradient and incorporation of endothelial, epithelial, and immune cells, the review focuses on the hydrogel extracellular matrix (ECM) to accurately model the interstitial space through which extravasated immune cells migrate towards the site of infection. Overall, this tutorial review is a practical guide for developing an OOC model of immune cell migration from the blood into the interstitial space during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisette Van Os
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Olivier T. Guenat
- Organs-on-Chip Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Inselspital, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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2
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Frydman GH, Ellett F, Jorgensen J, Marand AL, Zukerberg L, Selig MK, Tessier SN, Wong KHK, Olaleye D, Vanderburg CR, Fox JG, Tompkins RG, Irimia D. Megakaryocytes respond during sepsis and display innate immune cell behaviors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1083339. [PMID: 36936945 PMCID: PMC10019826 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1083339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Megakaryocytes (MKs) are precursors to platelets, the second most abundant cells in the peripheral circulation. However, while platelets are known to participate in immune responses and play significant functions during infections, the role of MKs within the immune system remains largely unexplored. Histological studies of sepsis patients identified increased nucleated CD61+ cells (MKs) in the lungs, and CD61+ staining (likely platelets within microthrombi) in the kidneys, which correlated with the development of organ dysfunction. Detailed imaging cytometry of peripheral blood from patients with sepsis found significantly higher MK counts, which we predict would likely be misclassified by automated hematology analyzers as leukocytes. Utilizing in vitro techniques, we show that both stem cell derived MKs (SC MKs) and cells from the human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, Meg-01, undergo chemotaxis, interact with bacteria, and are capable of releasing chromatin webs in response to various pathogenic stimuli. Together, our observations suggest that MK cells display some basic innate immune cell behaviors and may actively respond and play functional roles in the pathophysiology of sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galit H. Frydman
- Division of Comparative Medicine and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Felix Ellett
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Julianne Jorgensen
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Anika L. Marand
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lawrence Zukerberg
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Martin K. Selig
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Shannon N. Tessier
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Keith H. K. Wong
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Olaleye
- Division of Comparative Medicine and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - James G. Fox
- Division of Comparative Medicine and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ronald G. Tompkins
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Daniel Irimia
- BioMEMS Resource Center and Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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3
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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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4
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Park DH, Jung YJ, Steve Jeo Kins SJK, Kim YD, Go JS. Prevention of Microsphere Blockage in Catheter Tubes Using Convex Air Bubbles. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11121040. [PMID: 33260919 PMCID: PMC7760967 DOI: 10.3390/mi11121040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a novel method to prevent blockages by embolic microspheres in catheter channels by using convex air bubbles attached to the channels' inner wall surface. The clogging by microspheres can occur by the arching of the microspheres in the catheter. A few studies have been done on reducing the blockage, but their methods are not suitable for use with embolic catheters. In this study, straight catheter channels were fabricated. They had cavities to form convex air bubbles; additionally, a straight channel without the cavities was designed for comparison. Blockage was observed in the straight channel without the cavities, and the blockage arching angle was measured to be 70°, while no blockage occurred in the cavity channel with air bubbles, even at a geometrical arching angle of 85°. The convex air bubbles have an important role in preventing blockages by microspheres. The slip effect on the air bubble surface and the centrifugal effect make the microspheres drift away from the channel wall. It was observed that as the size of the cavity was increased, the drift distance became larger. Additionally, as more convex air bubbles were formed, the amount of early drift to the center increased. It will be advantageous to design a catheter with large cavities that have a small interval between them.
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5
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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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6
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Boribong BP, Rahimi A, Jones CN. Microfluidic Platform to Quantify Neutrophil Migratory Decision-Making. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1960:113-122. [PMID: 30798526 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9167-9_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in blood, serving as the first line of host defense in tissue damage and infections. Upon activation by chemokines released from pathogens or injured tissues, neutrophils migrate through complex tissue microenvironments toward sites of infections along the chemokine gradients, in a process named chemotaxis. However, current methods for measuring neutrophil chemotaxis require large volumes of blood and are often bulk, endpoint measurements. To address the need for rapid and robust assays, we engineered a novel dual gradient microfluidic platform that precisely quantifies neutrophil migratory decision-making with high temporal resolution. Here, we present a protocol to measure neutrophil migratory phenotypes (velocity, directionality) with single-cell resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany P Boribong
- Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Amina Rahimi
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Caroline N Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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7
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Ellett F, Jorgensen J, Marand AL, Liu YM, Martinez MM, Sein V, Butler KL, Lee J, Irimia D. Diagnosis of sepsis from a drop of blood by measurement of spontaneous neutrophil motility in a microfluidic assay. Nat Biomed Eng 2018; 2:207-214. [PMID: 30283724 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-018-0208-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Current methods for the diagnosis of sepsis have insufficient precision, causing regular misdiagnoses. Microbiological tests can help diagnose sepsis but are usually too slow to have an impact on timely clinical-decision making. Neutrophils have high sensitivity to infections, yet measurements of neutrophil surface markers, genomic changes, and phenotype alterations have had only a marginal effect on sepsis diagnosis. Here, we report a microfluidic assay that measures the spontaneous motility of neutrophils in the context of plasma, in one droplet of blood. We measured the performance of the assay in two independent cohorts of critically ill patients suspected of sepsis. In the first cohort, we developed a machine-learning-based scoring system (sepsis score) that segregated patients with sepsis from those without sepsis. In the second cohort, we validated the sepsis score in a double-blinded, prospective case-control study. For the 42 patients across the two cohorts, the assay identified sepsis patients with 97% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The neutrophil assay could potentially be used to accurately diagnose and monitor sepsis in larger populations of at-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Ellett
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julianne Jorgensen
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anika L Marand
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuk Ming Liu
- Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Myriam M Martinez
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vicki Sein
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathryn L Butler
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jarone Lee
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Irimia
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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8
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Damiati S, Kompella UB, Damiati SA, Kodzius R. Microfluidic Devices for Drug Delivery Systems and Drug Screening. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E103. [PMID: 29462948 PMCID: PMC5852599 DOI: 10.3390/genes9020103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Revised: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic devices present unique advantages for the development of efficient drug carrier particles, cell-free protein synthesis systems, and rapid techniques for direct drug screening. Compared to bulk methods, by efficiently controlling the geometries of the fabricated chip and the flow rates of multiphase fluids, microfluidic technology enables the generation of highly stable, uniform, monodispersed particles with higher encapsulation efficiency. Since the existing preclinical models are inefficient drug screens for predicting clinical outcomes, microfluidic platforms might offer a more rapid and cost-effective alternative. Compared to 2D cell culture systems and in vivo animal models, microfluidic 3D platforms mimic the in vivo cell systems in a simple, inexpensive manner, which allows high throughput and multiplexed drug screening at the cell, organ, and whole-body levels. In this review, the generation of appropriate drug or gene carriers including different particle types using different configurations of microfluidic devices is highlighted. Additionally, this paper discusses the emergence of fabricated microfluidic cell-free protein synthesis systems for potential use at point of care as well as cell-, organ-, and human-on-a-chip models as smart, sensitive, and reproducible platforms, allowing the investigation of the effects of drugs under conditions imitating the biological system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Damiati
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Uday B Kompella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ophthalmology, and Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Safa A Damiati
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rimantas Kodzius
- Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department, The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq.
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), 80539 Munich, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 81675 Munich, Germany.
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9
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Bui TM, Mascarenhas LA, Sumagin R. Extracellular vesicles regulate immune responses and cellular function in intestinal inflammation and repair. Tissue Barriers 2018; 6:e1431038. [PMID: 29424657 PMCID: PMC6179129 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2018.1431038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tightly controlled communication among the various resident and recruited cells in the intestinal tissue is critical for maintaining tissue homeostasis, re-establishment of the barrier function and healing responses following injury. Emerging evidence convincingly implicates extracellular vesicles (EVs) in facilitating this important cell-to-cell crosstalk by transporting bioactive effectors and genetic information in healthy tissue and disease. While many aspects of EV biology, including release mechanisms, cargo packaging, and uptake by target cells are still not completely understood, EVs contribution to cellular signaling and function is apparent. Moreover, EV research has already sparked a clinical interest, as a potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tool. The current review will discuss the function of EVs originating from innate immune cells, namely, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages, as well as intestinal epithelial cells in healthy tissue and inflammatory disorders of the intestinal tract. Our discussion will specifically emphasize the contribution of EVs to the regulation of vascular and epithelial barrier function in inflamed intestines, wound healing, as well as trafficking and activity of resident and recruited immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Triet M. Bui
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lorraine A. Mascarenhas
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ronen Sumagin
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Chicago, IL, USA
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10
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Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in blood serving as the first line of host defense in tissue damage and infections. Upon activation by chemokines released from pathogens or injured tissues, neutrophils migrate through tissues toward sites of infections along the chemokine gradients, in a process named chemotaxis. Studying neutrophil chemotaxis using conventional tools, such as a transwell assay, often requires isolation of neutrophils from whole blood. This process requires milliliters of blood, trained personnel, and can easily alter the ability of chemotaxis. Microfluidics is an enabling technology for studying chemotaxis of neutrophils in vitro with high temporal and spatial resolution. In this chapter, we describe a procedure for probing human neutrophil chemotaxis directly in one droplet of whole blood, without neutrophil isolation, using microfluidic devices. The same devices can be applied to the study the chemotaxis of neutrophils from small animals, e.g., mice and rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Division of Surgery, Innovation and Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Irimia
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Division of Surgery, Innovation and Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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11
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Yang K, Wu J, Zhu L, Liu Y, Zhang M, Lin F. An All-on-chip Method for Rapid Neutrophil Chemotaxis Analysis Directly from a Drop of Blood. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28671651 DOI: 10.3791/55615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil migration and chemotaxis are critical for our body's immune system. Microfluidic devices are increasingly used for investigating neutrophil migration and chemotaxis owing to their advantages in real-time visualization, precise control of chemical concentration gradient generation, and reduced reagent and sample consumption. Recently, a growing effort has been made by the microfluidic researchers toward developing integrated and easily operated microfluidic chemotaxis analysis systems, directly from whole blood. In this direction, the first all-on-chip method was developed for integrating the magnetic negative purification of neutrophils and the chemotaxis assay from small blood volume samples. This new method permits a rapid sample-to-result neutrophil chemotaxis test in 25 min. In this paper, we provide detailed construction, operation and data analysis method for this all-on-chip chemotaxis assay with a discussion on troubleshooting strategies, limitations and future directions. Representative results of the neutrophil chemotaxis assay testing a defined chemoattractant, N-Formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP), and sputum from a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient, using this all-on-chip method are shown. This method is applicable to many cell migration-related investigations and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yang
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Science and Technology of China; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba
| | - Jiandong Wu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba; Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba
| | - Ling Zhu
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Yong Liu
- Institute of Applied Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | | | - Francis Lin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba; Department of Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba; Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba;
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12
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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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13
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Jones CN, Hoang AN, Martel JM, Dimisko L, Mikkola A, Inoue Y, Kuriyama N, Yamada M, Hamza B, Kaneki M, Warren HS, Brown DE, Irimia D. Microfluidic assay for precise measurements of mouse, rat, and human neutrophil chemotaxis in whole-blood droplets. J Leukoc Biol 2016; 100:241-7. [PMID: 26819316 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.5ta0715-310rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models of human disease differ in innate immune responses to stress, pathogens, or injury. Precise neutrophil phenotype measurements could facilitate interspecies comparisons. However, such phenotype comparisons could not be performed accurately with the use of current assays, as they require the separation of neutrophils from blood using species-specific protocols, and they introduce distinct artifacts. Here, we report a microfluidic technology that enables robust characterization of neutrophil migratory phenotypes in a manner independent of the donor species and performed directly in a droplet of whole blood. The assay relies on the particular ability of neutrophils to deform actively during chemotaxis through microscale channels that block the advance of other blood cells. Neutrophil migration is measured directly in blood, in the presence of other blood cells and serum factors. Our measurements reveal important differences among migration counts, velocity, and directionality among neutrophils from 2 common mouse strains, rats, and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline N Jones
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anh N Hoang
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph M Martel
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laurie Dimisko
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amy Mikkola
- Center for Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yoshitaka Inoue
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Naohide Kuriyama
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marina Yamada
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bashar Hamza
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Masao Kaneki
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - H Shaw Warren
- Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Infectious Disease Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Diane E Brown
- Center for Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; and
| | - Daniel Irimia
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
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14
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15
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Hamza B, Irimia D. Whole blood human neutrophil trafficking in a microfluidic model of infection and inflammation. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:2625-33. [PMID: 25987163 PMCID: PMC4457540 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00245a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Appropriate inflammatory responses to wounds and infections require adequate numbers of neutrophils arriving at injury sites. Both insufficient and excessive neutrophil recruitment can be detrimental, favouring systemic spread of microbes or triggering severe tissue damage. Despite its importance in health and disease, the trafficking of neutrophils through tissues remains difficult to control and the mechanisms regulating it are insufficiently understood. These mechanisms are also complex and difficult to isolate using traditional in vivo models. Here we designed a microfluidic model of tissue infection/inflammation, in which human neutrophils emerge from a droplet-size samples of whole blood and display bi-directional traffic between this and micro-chambers containing chemoattractant and microbe-like particles. Two geometrical barriers restrict the entrance of red blood cells from the blood to the micro-chambers and simulate the mechanical function of the endothelial barrier separating the cells in blood from cells in tissues. We found that in the presence of chemoattractant, the number of neutrophils departing the chambers by retrotaxis is in dynamic equilibrium with the neutrophils recruited by chemotaxis. We also found that in the presence of microbe-like particles, the number of neutrophils trapped in the chambers is proportional to the number of particles. Together, the dynamic equilibrium between migration, reversed-migration and trapping processes determine the optimal number of neutrophils at a site. These neutrophils are continuously refreshed and responsive to the number of microbes. Further studies using this infection-inflammation-on-a-chip-model could help study the processes of inflammation resolution. The new in vitro experimental tools may also eventually help testing new therapeutic strategies to limit neutrophil accumulation in tissues during chronic inflammation, without increasing the risk for infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashar Hamza
- BioMEMS Resource Center, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02129
- Current affiliation: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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16
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Moussavi-Harami SF, Pezzi HM, Huttenlocher A, Beebe DJ. Simple microfluidic device for studying chemotaxis in response to dual gradients. Biomed Microdevices 2015; 17:9955. [PMID: 25893484 PMCID: PMC4768479 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-015-9955-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Chemotaxis is a fundamental biological process where complex chemotactic gradients are integrated and prioritized to guide cell migration toward specific locations. To understand the mechanisms of gradient dependent cell migration, it is important to develop in vitro models that recapitulate key attributes of the chemotactic cues present in vivo. Current in vitro tools for studying cell migration are not amenable to easily study the response of neutrophils to dual gradients. Many of these systems require external pumps and complex setups to establish and maintain the gradients. Here we report a simple yet innovative microfluidic device for studying cell migration in the presence of dual chemotactic gradients through a 3-dimensional substrate. The device is tested and validated by studying the migration of the neutrophil-like cell line PLB-985 to gradients of fMLP. Furthermore, the device is expanded and used with heparinised whole blood, whereupon neutrophils were observed to migrate from whole blood towards gradients of fMLP eliminating the need for any neutrophil purification or capture steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- S F Moussavi-Harami
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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