Directional decisions during neutrophil chemotaxis inside bifurcating channels.

ABSTRACT: The directional migration of human neutrophils in classical chemotaxis assays is often described as a "biased random walk" implying significant randomness in speed and directionality. However, these experiments are inconsistent with in vivo observations, where neutrophils can navigate effectively through complex tissue microenvironments towards their targets. Here, we demonstrate a novel biomimetic assay for neutrophil chemotaxis using enclosed microfluidic channels. Remarkably, under these enclosed conditions, neutrophils recapitulate the highly robust and efficient navigation observed in vivo. In straight channels, neutrophils undergo sustained, unidirectional motion towards a chemoattractant source. In more complex maze-like geometries, neutrophils are able to select the most direct rou

SUBMITTER: Ambravaneswaran V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3001269 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature