Assessment of Granulocyte Subset Activation: New Information from Image-Based Flow Cytometry

Analysis of granulocyte function can provide important information about the state of the body's innate immune system. Existing flow cytometry methods that lack image-based analysis capabilities fail to fully evaluate granulocyte function. In the present method, we combine simultaneous detection of phagocytosis and oxidative burst in granulocytes to identify unique subsets of activated granulocytes. This analysis method provides novel information about granulocytes that allows our lab and others to evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional and lifestyle countermeasures, designed to improve immunity.