Chemotaxis Under Agarose: A New and Simple Method for Measuring Chemotaxis and Spontaneous Migration of Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes and Monocytes

TLDR

Various techniques exist for studying spontaneous and directed cell migration, with the Boyden membrane filter method being the standard for leukocyte migration in vitro, though it does not directly apply to chemotaxis of different cell types. The authors propose a new, simple in‑vitro method to study human leukocyte chemotaxis using migration under agarose gel. The method relies on measuring cell migration beneath an agarose gel to assess chemotaxis and spontaneous movement. The agarose‑based assay works for polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes, enabling measurement of chemotaxis and spontaneous migration with fewer cells, and is rapid, simple, reproducible, and inexpensive.

Abstract

A variety of methods have been devised for the study of spontaneous and directed cell migration. Among these, the membrane filter method introduced by Boyden in 1962, with its more recent modifications, has become the technique of choice for studies of leukocyte migration in vitro. This method, however, cannot be applied without alteration to studies of chemotaxis and spontaneous migration of cells of different types. We describe in this report a new and simple method for studying human leukocyte chemotaxis, in vitro, which is based upon migration of cells under agarose gel. This method has application to both polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes, permits measurement of both chemotaxis and spontaneous migration, requires fewer cells per test, and is rapid, simple, reproducible, and inexpensive to set up.