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Cryopreservation of Human Mucosal Leukocytes
Sean M Hughes1, Zhiquan Shu2,3, Claire N Levy1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Plos One
|May 28, 2016
Summary
Developing an effective cryopreservation protocol for mucosal leukocytes is crucial for studying immune responses to pathogens and developing interventions for HIV prevention. This study optimized cell recovery and function, providing a valuable resource for researchers.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Virology
Background:
- Understanding mucosal leukocyte responses is key for preventing HIV and STIs.
- Effective cryopreservation of these cells is needed for feasible research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize a cryopreservation protocol for mucosal mononuclear leukocytes.
- To improve the recovery and viability of leukocytes from cervicovaginal and colorectal tissues.
Main Methods:
- Compared various cryopreservation media and procedures using human vaginal, endocervical, and colorectal leukocytes.
- Assessed viable T cell and macrophage recovery after cryopreservation.
- Evaluated cytokine responses to antigenic stimulation in cryopreserved versus fresh cells.
Main Results:
- Several cryopreservation media achieved >75% cell recovery.
- Minimizing washes increased cell recovery by 10-15%.
- Cryopreserved leukocytes showed slightly enhanced cytokine responses post-stimulation.
Conclusions:
- Mucosal leukocytes can be successfully cryopreserved with high recovery of viable, functional cells.
- Optimized washing procedures significantly impact cell recovery rates.
- A detailed protocol for cryopreserving mucosal leukocytes is provided.
