Real-Time In Vitro Migration Assay for Primary Murine CD8+ T Cells

The goal of our research is to understand T cell migration patterns in highly defined environmental conditions to enable informed in vitro experimentation and decipher molecular interactions impacting migration. Live imaging, such as intravital multiphoton microscopy, is used for in vivo understanding of immune cell kinetics. But microfluidic devices are a common in vitro tool that offer precise control over the microenvironment that cannot be afforded in a live specimen.

Our protocol allows us to analyze intricate signaling pathways and provides better understanding for targeted in vitro experiments to further address the biological roles of individual signals in a cell type specific manner. Our method is simple, reproducible and easy to access in research labs that have a brightfield microscope featuring an attached digital camera. Therefore, our approach ensures a reliable set of methods to study dynamic cell migration events.

Our lab will focus on investigating the migration of immune cells, including T cells and neutrophils in a variety of disease settings, such as tumors and infection, thereby comprehending the mechanisms that are important to regulate immune cell migration. This will help in developing the therapeutic methods to help treat and prevent disease.