Analyzing the effects of stromal cells on the recruitment of leukocytes from flow

Hafsa Munir*, Ed Rainger, Gerard B. Nash, Helen McGettrick

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)
164 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Stromal cells regulate the recruitment of circulating leukocytes during inflammation through cross-talk with neighboring endothelial cells. Here we describe two in vitro “vascular” models for studying the recruitment of circulating neutrophils from flow by inflamed endothelial cells. A major advantage of these models is the ability to analyze each step in the leukocyte adhesion cascade in order, as would occur in vivo. We also describe how both models can be adapted to study the role of stromal cells, in this case mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), in regulating leukocyte recruitment.

Our flow based-adhesion models mimic the initial phases of leukocyte recruitment from the circulation. In addition to leukocytes, they can be used to examine the recruitment of other cell types, such as therapeutically administered MSC or circulating tumor cells. Our multi-layered co-culture models have shown that MSC communicate with endothelium to modify their response to pro-inflammatory cytokines, altering the recruitment of neutrophils. Further research using such models is required to fully understand how stromal cells from different tissues and conditions (inflammatory disorders or cancer) influence the recruitment of leukocytes during inflammation.

Primary endothelial cells were cultured alone or together with human MSC in direct contact on Ibidi microslides or on opposite sides of a Transwell filter for 24 hr. Cultures were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) for 4 hr and incorporated into a flow-based adhesion assay. A bolus of neutrophils was perfused over the endothelium for 4 min. The capture of flowing neutrophils and their interactions with the endothelium was visualized by phase-contrast microscopy.

In both models, cytokine-stimulation increased endothelial recruitment of flowing neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of the behavior of recruited neutrophils showed a dose-dependent decrease in rolling and a dose-dependent increase in transmigration through the endothelium. In co-culture, MSC suppressed neutrophil adhesion to TNFα-stimulated endothelium.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere52480
JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments
Issue number95
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jan 2015

Keywords

  • Adhesion
  • Co-culture
  • Endothelial cells
  • Flow based adhesion assay
  • Ibidi microslide
  • Immunology
  • Inflammation
  • Issue 95
  • Leukocytes
  • Mesenchymal stem cells
  • Mesenchymal stromal cells
  • Neutrophil
  • Recruitment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)
  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)
  • Neuroscience(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Analyzing the effects of stromal cells on the recruitment of leukocytes from flow'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this