Flow Chamber Assay Protocol

[moleculardude]

L-selectin-PNAd Interactions under Flow Conditions - Flow Chamber Assay

Purpose

The main purpose of flow chamber assays is to visualize, investigate and measure interactions between flowing cells expressing a given adhesion molecule on their cell surface and their receptor. These receptors that the cells are interacting with can either directly coated on the flow chamber lower wall or expressed on a cell monolayer.

This protocol examines the interaction between L-selectin expressed on neutrophils and PNAd coated onto the plastic surface.

Materials and Methods for Flow Chamber Assay

- Purified human PNAd (from tonsil lysates).
- 50 mM Tris pH 9.5, 0.1 % n-octyl-b-D-glucopyranosil, 0.02% sodium azide.
- 2 % Human serum albumin (HSA).
- Polysterene dishes.
- 9.5 g Hanks’ balanced salts diluted in 1 L 20 mM Hepes solution. Adjust pH to 7.4.

Protocol for Flow Chamber Assay

Protocol for Coating Dishes with PNAd

1. Dissolve purified PNAd in 50 mM Tris pH 9.5, 0.1 % n-octyl-b-D-glucopyranosil, 0.02% sodium azide buffer, to the required concentration .
2. Place 10-30 ml of PNAd dilution on the center of a polysterene dish. With a permanent marker make a spot on the outer face of the dish to locate the coating area throughout the experiment.
3. Place the dish on a humid box and incubate for 1 hour at 37 oC.
4. Wash the spot by aspirating the PNAd solution and immediately apply 20-50 ml of the Tris Buffer. Be careful not to touch the surface or leave it dry.
5. Aspirate the washing buffer and cover the area with 100-500 ml of 2% HSA diluted in Tris buffer.
6. Place the plate into the humid box and incubate at 37 oC for 1 hour to o.n.
7. After gently washing the surface with Tris buffer, dishes can be kept at 4 oC for several hours.

Flow chamber Assay Protocol

1. Assemble the flow chamber to the polysterene dish, placing the coated area on the center of the chamber.
2. Set the pump connected to the outlet tube of the chamber at a refilling mode of 2 ml/min. Fill the chamber with the running buffer, Hank’s buffer, making sure that no air bubbles are remainig into the chamber. To avoid bubble growth in the chamber, make sure the buffer is at room temperature and that the vacuum efficiently shields the chamber to the dish.
3. Start infusion of purified neutrophils into the chamber at high rate. Once the neutrophils are in the microscopic field, reduce the shear to 0.4 dyn/cm2, and progressively increase it depending on the purpose of the experiment.
4. Images can be recorded onto a video tape, and analyzed off-line.

A 10X objective is recommended for visulization of neutrophils.

Analysis of Results


Depending on PNAd coating site density stable or rolling or transient tethers (at lower densities) should be detected at shear stresses ranging between 0.8 to 1.5 dyn/cm2.

No firm adhesion should be observed. Adherent cells could be due to unspecific interactions of neutrophils with the surface (stronger blocking conditions should be tested) or to cell activation (perform the experiment immediately after neutrophil isolation and keep neutrophils on ice).

Modified from Azucena Salas et al., Springer Lab.