Monocyte and neutrophil isolation and migration assays

This unit describes methods for isolating mouse monocytes and neutrophils, as well as in vitro protocols for measuring cell migration and polarization. The method employed here for the isolation of naive phagocytes overcomes many of the difficulties previously encountered concerning phagocyte activation. Three in vitro protocols are provided for the analysis of cell migration, one requiring no specialized equipment, one requiring the modified Boyden chamber, and the other employing a flow chamber, which measures cell adhesion, rolling, and migration. Finally, a method is provided for imaging polarized cells by confocal microscopy.