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Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

2 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Medicine

Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) for Research; Obtaining Adequate Sample Yield

Andrea M. Collins^1,2, Jamie Rylance³, Daniel G. Wootton⁴, Angela D. Wright^3,5, Adam K. A. Wright^1,3, Duncan G. Fullerton^3,6, Stephen B. Gordon³

¹Biomedical Research Centre in Microbial Diseases, National Institute for Health Research, ²Respiratory Infection Group, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital Trust, ³Respiratory Infection Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, ⁴Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, ⁵Comprehensive Local Research Network, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital Trust, ⁶Department of Respiratory Research, University Hospital Aintree

We describe a research technique for fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage using low pressure suction. The technique is used to harvest immune cells from the lung bronchoalveolar surfaces. Local anesthetic and mild conscious sedation (midazolam) is used. Subjects tolerate the procedure well and experience minimal side effects.

Immunology and Infection

Quantification of Efferocytosis by Single-cell Fluorescence Microscopy

Kyle Taruc¹, Charles Yin¹, Daniel G. Wootton^2,3, Bryan Heit¹

¹Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Center for Human Immunology, University of Western Ontario, ²Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, ³Department of Respiratory Research, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Efferocytosis, the phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells, is required to maintain homeostasis and is facilitated by receptors and signaling pathways that allow for the recognition, engulfment, and internalization of apoptotic cells. Herein, we present a fluorescence microscopy protocol for the quantification of efferocytosis and the activity of efferocytic signaling pathways.