Complex chemoattractive and chemorepellent Kit signals revealed by direct imaging of murine mast cells in microfluidic gradient chambers.

ABSTRACT: Besides its cooperating effects on stem cell proliferation and survival, Kit ligand (KL) is a potent chemotactic protein. While transwell assays permit studies of the frequency of migrating cells, the lack of direct visualization precludes dynamic chemotaxis studies. In response, we utilize microfluidic chambers that enable direct observation of murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) within stable KL gradients. Using this system, individual Kit+ BMMC were quantitatively analyzed for migration speed and directionality during KL-induced chemotaxis. Our results indicated a minimum activating threshold of ~3 ng ml(-1) for chemoattraction. Analysis of cells at KL concentrations below 3 ng ml(-1) revealed a paradoxical chemorepulsion, which has not been described previously. Unlike chemoat

SUBMITTER: Shamloo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3973540 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature