ISSN:
0001-1541
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Chemical Engineering
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
During inflammation, leukocytes cross the blood vessel wall and migrate to the inflammatory site in response to gradients of diffusible chemical attractants produced there. This directed migration response to a chemical gradient, termed chemotaxis, can be studied experimentally in the Millipore filter assay. We have applied a mathematical model to analyze cell population migration in the assay in terms of two parameters analogous to molecular transport coefficients. The random motility coefficient, μ, reflects the cell response to uniform concentrations of chemical attractant, while the chemotaxis coefficient, χ, reflects the response to a concentration gradient. We have measured μ and χ by comparing theoretical cell density profiles to those measured in the assay. Both parameters vary as a function of the attractant concentration; μ ranges from 10-10-10-9 cm2/s and χ ranges from 10-100 cm2/s.M for the attractant tested. These values agree with ones predicted from a priori theoretical relationships for μ and χ. Quantitation of the Millipore filter assay provides a framework for the quantitation of analogous cell transport systems such as a composite assay simulating cell migration across the vessel wall.
Additional Material:
10 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aic.690350314
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