Analyzing the Physicodynamics of Immune Cells in a Three-Dimensional Collagen Matrix
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The movement of immune cells is an indispensable prerequisite for their function. All essential steps of cellular immunity
rely on the ability of cells to migrate and to interact with each other. Although observation of these phenomena in vivo would
be the most physiological approach, intravital imaging is technically very demanding and not optimally suited for routine
or high-throughput analysis. Any good in vitro experimental system should reflect the inherent three-dimensionality of cell
migration and interaction in living tissues. Data generated over the last decade show that important cellular parameters like
cell velocity, cell shape, and the physicodynamics of cell—cell interactions closely resemble values observed in vivo when
measured in a three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix assay, featuring a hydrated network of fibers consisting of type I collagen,
the major component of the extracellular matrix. In this chapter, we describe in detail the experimental use of the 3D collagen
matrix system. We delineate the preparation of immune cells exemplified by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and antigen
specific T-helper cells of the mouse, the build-up and use of the 3D collagen matrix chamber, the procedures of real time
fluorescence microscopic analysis of cell migration and cell—cell interaction, as well as data analysis supported by a self-developed
software for computerassisted cell tracking.
Affiliation(s): (2) Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
(3) Department of Physics, The German University of Cairo — GUC, New Cairo City, Egypt
(3) Department of Physics, The German University of Cairo — GUC, New Cairo City, Egypt
Book Title: Immunological Tolerance: Methods and Protocols
Series: Methods in Molecular Biology | Volume: 380 | Pub. Date: Jun-08-2007 | Page Range: 253-269 | DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-395-0_15
Subject: Immunology
Key Words: Immune system - cell motility - 3D collagen matrix - T lymphocytes - dendritic cells - cell tracking - physicodynamics - fluorescence microscopy
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