Name: a quantitative evaluation of cell migration by the phagokinetic track motility assay
Uploaded: 2012-12-04T12:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Quantitative Evaluation of Cell Migration by the Phagokinetic Track Motility Assay at JoVE.com

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI050677, HD-051998, and GM103433), a Malcolm Feist cardiovascular research fellowship, and an American Heart Association predoctoral fellowship (10PRE4200007).

1. Preparation of Gelatin-coated Coverslips
<ol>
	<li>Place acid-washed glass coverslips (15 mm in diameter) in a sterile plastic 100 mm dish(es). Place 8-9 coverslips per dish and make sure they are not touching each other or the sides of the dish..</li>
</ol>
Note: Coverslips, needles and tweezers need to be sterile to eliminate possible contaminating microorganisms, as well as endotoxins that will affect cellular functions, including motility.
<ol start="2">
	<li>Weigh th...

<ol>
	<li>Armstrong, P. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+control+of+cell+motility+during+embryogenesis.">The control of cell motility during embryogenesis.</a> Cancer Metastasis Rev. 4, 59-79 (1985).</li><li>Dustin, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stop+and+go+traffic+to+tune+T+cell+responses.">Stop and go traffic to tune T cell responses.</a> Immunity. 21, 305-314 (2004).</li><li>Mutsaers, S. E., Bishop, J. E., McGrouther, G., Laurent, G. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanisms+of+tissue+repair:+from+wound+healing+to+fibrosis.">Mechanisms of tissue repair: from wound healing to fibrosis.</a> Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 29, 5-17 (1997).</li><li>Etienne-Manneville, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polarity+proteins+in+migration+and+invasion.">Polarity proteins in migration and invasion.</a> Oncogene. 27, 6970-6980 (2008).</li><li>Parsons, J. T., Horwitz, A. R., Schwartz, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+adhesion:+integrating+cytoskeletal+dynamics+and+cellular+tension.">Cell adhesion: integrating cytoskeletal dynamics and cellular tension.</a> Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 11, 633-643 (2010).</li><li>Mitchison, T. J., Cramer, L. 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S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Getting+membrane+flow+and+the+cytoskeleton+to+cooperate+in+moving+cells.">Getting membrane flow and the cytoskeleton to cooperate in moving cells.</a> Cell. 87, 601-606 (1996).</li><li>Albrecht-Buehler, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+phagokinetic+tracks+of+3T3+cells.">The phagokinetic tracks of 3T3 cells.</a> Cell. 11, 395-404 (1977).</li><li>Smith, M. S., Bentz, G. L., Alexander, J. S., Yurochko, A. 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Virol. 78, 4444-4453 (2004).</li><li>Palmisano, R., Itoh, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Matrix+Metalloproteinase+Protocols.">Matrix Metalloproteinase Protocols.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 622, 379-392 (2010).</li><li>Ohta, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HOXD3-Overexpression+Increases+Integrin+Alpha+V+Beta+3+Expression+and+Deprives+E-Cadherin+while+It+Enhances+Cell+Motility+in+A549+Cells.">HOXD3-Overexpression Increases Integrin Alpha V Beta 3 Expression and Deprives E-Cadherin while It Enhances Cell Motility in A549 Cells.</a> Clinical and Experimental Metastasis. 7-8, 381-390 (2006).</li><li>Kawa, S., Kimura, S., Hakomori, S., Igarashi, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Inhibition+of+chemotactic+motility+and+trans-endothelial+migration+of+human+neutrophils+by+sphingosine+1-phosphate.">Inhibition of chemotactic motility and trans-endothelial migration of human neutrophils by sphingosine 1-phosphate.</a> FEBS Lett. 420, 196-200 (1997).</li><li>Kawamura, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=N-WASP+and+WAVE2+acting+downstream+of+phosphatidylinositol+3-kinase+are+required+for+myogenic+cell+migration+induced+by+hepatocyte+growth+factor.">N-WASP and WAVE2 acting downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase are required for myogenic cell migration induced by hepatocyte growth factor.</a> J. 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R., Reilly, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endothelial+cell+phagokinesis+in+response+to+specific+metal+ions.">Endothelial cell phagokinesis in response to specific metal ions.</a> Exp. Cell. Res. 130, 147-157 (1980).</li><li>Smith, M. S., Bentz, G. L., Smith, P. M., Bivins, E. R., Yurochko, A. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HCMV+activates+PI(3)K+in+monocytes+and+promotes+monocyte+motility+and+transendothelial+migration+in+a+PI(3)K-dependent+manner.">HCMV activates PI(3)K in monocytes and promotes monocyte motility and transendothelial migration in a PI(3)K-dependent manner.</a> J. Leukoc. Biol. 76 (3), 65-76 (2004).</li><li>Smith, M. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Roles+of+phosphatidylinositol+3-kinase+and+NF-kappaB+in+human+cytomegalovirus-mediated+monocyte+diapedesis+and+adhesion:+strategy+for+viral+persistence.">Roles of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and NF-kappaB in human cytomegalovirus-mediated monocyte diapedesis and adhesion: strategy for viral persistence.</a> J. Virol. 81, 7683-7694 (2007).</li><li>Bentz, G. L., Yurochko, A. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+CMV+infection+of+endothelial+cells+induces+an+angiogenic+response+through+viral+binding+to+EGF+receptor+and+beta1+and+beta3+integrins.">Human CMV infection of endothelial cells induces an angiogenic response through viral binding to EGF receptor and beta1 and beta3 integrins.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105, 5531-5536 (2008).</li><li>Chan, G., Nogalski, M. T., Yurochko, A. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Activation+of+EGFR+on+monocytes+is+required+for+human+cytomegalovirus+entry+and+mediates+cellular+motility.">Activation of EGFR on monocytes is required for human cytomegalovirus entry and mediates cellular motility.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106, 22369-22374 (2009).</li><li>Nogalski, M. T., Chan, G., Stevenson, E. V., Gray, S., Yurochko, A. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HCMV-Regulated+Paxillin+in+Monocytes+Links+Cellular+Pathogenic+Motility+to+the+Process+of+Viral+Entry.">HCMV-Regulated Paxillin in Monocytes Links Cellular Pathogenic Motility to the Process of Viral Entry.</a> J. Virol. 85, 1360-1369 (2011).</li><li>Turkevich, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+study+of+the+nucleation+and+growth+processes+in+the+synthesis+of+colloidal+gold.">A study of the nucleation and growth processes in the synthesis of colloidal gold.</a> Discuss. Faraday. Soc. 11, 55-75 (1951).</li><li>Frens, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Particle+size+and+sol+stability+in+mental+colloids.">Particle size and sol stability in mental colloids.</a> Colloid &#38; Polymer Science. 250, 736-741 (1972).</li><li>Frens, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Controlled+nucleation+for+the+regulation+of+the+particle+size+in+monodisperse+gold+suspensions.">Controlled nucleation for the regulation of the particle size in monodisperse gold suspensions.</a> Phys. Sci. 241, 20-22 (1973).</li><li>Zetter, B. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assay+of+capillary+endothelial+cell+migration.">Assay of capillary endothelial cell migration.</a> Methods Enzymol. 147, 135-144 (1987).</li><li>Scott, W. N., McCool, K., Nelson, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improved+method+for+the+production+of+gold+colloid+monolayers+for+use+in+the+phagokinetic+track+assay+for+cell+motility.">Improved method for the production of gold colloid monolayers for use in the phagokinetic track assay for cell motility.</a> Anal. Biochem. 287, 343-344 (2000).</li><li>Wang, S. Y., Mak, K. L., Chen, L. Y., Chou, M. P., Ho, C. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Heterogeneity+of+human+blood+monocyte:+two+subpopulations+with+different+sizes,+phenotypes+and+functions.">Heterogeneity of human blood monocyte: two subpopulations with different sizes, phenotypes and functions.</a> Immunology. 77, 298-303 (1992).</li><li>Windler-Hart, S. L., Chen, K. Y., Chenn, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+cell+behavior+screen:+identification,+sorting,+and+enrichment+of+cells+based+on+motility.">A cell behavior screen: identification, sorting, and enrichment of cells based on motility.</a> BMC Cell Biol. 6, 14 (2005).</li><li>Pan, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Size-dependent+cytotoxicity+of+gold+nanoparticles.">Size-dependent cytotoxicity of gold nanoparticles.</a> Small. 3, 1941-1949 (2007).</li><li>Rodriguez, L. G., Wu, X., Guan, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Wound-healing+assay.">Wound-healing assay.</a> Methods Mol. 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H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+tumor+suppressor+DAPK+inhibits+cell+motility+by+blocking+the+integrin-mediated+polarity+pathway.">The tumor suppressor DAPK inhibits cell motility by blocking the integrin-mediated polarity pathway.</a> J. Cell Biol. 172, 619-631 (2006).</li><li>Benazeraf, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+random+cell+motility+gradient+downstream+of+FGF+controls+elongation+of+an+amniote+embryo.">A random cell motility gradient downstream of FGF controls elongation of an amniote embryo.</a> Nature. 466, 248-252 (2010).</li></ol>

The phagokinetic track motility assay presented in this article is a simple and highly effective method for quantitative analysis of cell migration. Because multiple cell types can be analyzed9-17, this method has the potential broad usage across multiple disciplines. The use of colloidal gold-coated glass coverslips allows for the measurement of a track area cleared by a moving cell. The assay can measure the effect of different stimuli (i.e. growth factors, purified ECM ligands, viruses, bac...

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Name of the reagent</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glass Coverslips (15 mm)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-545-83</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gelatin 300 Bloom</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G-1890</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tetrachloroauric Acid Trihydrate</td>
			<td>Fisher Chemical</td>
			<td>G54-1</td>
			<td>14.5 mM (a final working solution)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium Citrate</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>BP327-500</td>
			<td>0.5% (a final working solution)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>O4042</td>
			<td>3% (a final working solution)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 mm Tissue Culture Dish</td>
			<td>Sarstedt</td>
			<td>83.1802</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>12-Well Plates</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>08-772-29</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24-Well Plates</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>07-200-84</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Techne Oven Hybridiser HB-1D</td>
			<td>LabPlanet</td>
			<td>2040500</td>
			<td>The standard laboratory oven will suffice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 ml Serological Pipettes</td>
			<td>Sarstedt</td>
			<td>86.1254.001</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pipet-Aid Filler/Dispenser</td>
			<td>Drummond</td>
			<td>13-681-15</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>P200 Single-Channel Manual Pipette</td>
			<td>Rainin</td>
			<td>PR-200</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>200 ml Barrier Tips</td>
			<td>CLP</td>
			<td>BT200</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImageJ software</td>
			<td><a href="http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/" target="_blank">http://rsb.info.nih.gov/ij/</a></td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>License: Public Domain</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nikon Eclipse TE300 with a photometrics CoolSNAPfx monochrome 12-bit CCD camera</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>Discontinued; The most comparable specification has Nikon Eclipse Ti, but a lower end Nikon 80i will be suitable as well. Other brands also provide comparable microscopes.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
			<td>Note: The reagents and equipment listed below have been utilized by us in our various studies. Other supplies, suppliers, reagents, and equipment can be used, as long as they have similar specifications.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a quantitative evaluation of cell migration by the phagokinetic track motility assay

Cellular motility is an important biological process for both unicellular and multicellular organisms. It is essential for movement of unicellular organisms towards a source of nutrients or away from unsuitable conditions, as well as in multicellular organisms for tissue development, immune surveillance and wound healing, just to mention a few roles1,2,3. Deregulation of this process can lead to serious neurological, cardiovascular and immunological diseases, as well as exacerbated tumor formation and spread4,5. Molecularly, actin polymerization and receptor recycling have been shown to play important roles in creating cellular extensions (lamellipodia), that drive the forward movement of the cell6,7,8. However, many biological questions about cell migration remain unanswered.
The central role for cellular motility in human health and disease underlines the importance of understanding the specific mechanisms involved in this process and makes accurate methods for evaluating cell motility particularly important. Microscopes are usually used to visualize the movement of cells. However, cells move rather slowly, making the quantitative measurement of cell migration a resource-consuming process requiring expensive cameras and software to create quantitative time-lapsed movies of motile cells. Therefore, the ability to perform a quantitative measurement of cell migration that is cost-effective, non-laborious, and that utilizes common laboratory equipment is a great need for many researchers.
The phagokinetic track motility assay utilizes the ability of a moving cell to clear gold particles from its path to create a measurable track on a colloidal gold-coated glass coverslip9,10. With the use of freely available software, multiple tracks can be evaluated for each treatment to accomplish statistical requirements. The assay can be utilized to assess motility of many cell types, such as cancer cells11,12, fibroblasts9, neutrophils13, skeletal muscle cells14, keratinocytes15, trophoblasts16, endothelial cells17, and monocytes10,18-22. The protocol involves the creation of slides coated with gold nanoparticles (Au&deg;) that are generated by a reduction of chloroauric acid (Au3+) by sodium citrate. This method was developed by Turkevich et al. in 195123 and then improved in the 1970s by Frens et al.24,25. As a result of this chemical reduction step, gold particles (10-20 nm in diameter) precipitate from the reaction mixture and can be applied to glass coverslips, which are then ready for use in cellular migration analyses9,26,27.
In general, the phagokinetic track motility assay is a quick, quantitative and easy measure of cellular motility. In addition, it can be utilized as a simple high-throughput assay, for use with cell types that are not amenable to time-lapsed imaging, as well as other uses depending on the needs of the researcher. Together, the ability to quantitatively measure cellular motility of multiple cell types without the need for expensive microscopes and software, along with the use of common laboratory equipment and chemicals, make the phagokinetic track motility assay a solid choice for scientists with an interest in understanding cellular motility.

Shown is an example of pictures taken under a light microscope showing a track area cleared by a single cell (a monocyte from our experiments is shown in Figure 2). Non-motile cells create characteristic small, oval or circle-shaped tracts around themselves indicating a low basal level of movement for these unstimulated cells (Figures 2A and 2B). In contrast, highly motile cells [in our system, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected cells] are characterized by a directional movement shown...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Quantitative Evaluation of Cell Migration by the Phagokinetic Track Motility Assay at JoVE.com

A Quantitative Evaluation of Cell Migration by the Phagokinetic Track Motility Assay

The phagokinetic motility track assay is a method used to assess the movement of cells. Specifically, the assay measures chemokinesis (random cell motility) over time in a quantitative manner. The assay takes advantage of the ability of cells to create a measurable track of their movement on colloidal gold-coated coverslips.

Cellular motility is an important biological process for both unicellular and multicellular organisms. It is essential for movement of unicellular ...

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