ASSAYS OF LEUKOCYTE LOCOMOTION AND CHEMOTAXIS

This review discusses the range of methods which are currently availab le for measuring locomotion and chemotaxis of leukocytes in vitro, the ir history, and some definitions of terms. Assays of the net migration of large cell populations, such as the filter assay are the most popu lar and are useful for identifying chemoattractant molecules, but give no direct information about how these molecules influence the speed a nd direction of cell movement (chemokinesis and chemotaxis). Visual as says including measures of orientation in gradients and time-lapse fil ming give detailed information about cell paths and direct evidence fo r chemotaxis and chemokinesis. The polarization assay is a useful visu al screening assay. Assays which simulate the situation in living tiss ues are becoming more popular and include migration through collagen o r fibrin gels or through monolayers of vascular endothelium. Locomotio n is a complex process, no single assay gives full information and the use of more than one assay is recommended. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.