Analysis of the linear under-agarose leukocyte chemotaxis assay

Random and chemotactic movement of leukocytes appear to be key processes in the host inflammatory response. Abnormalities in leukocyte motility and chemosensory behavior have been implicated in a large number of pathological conditions, but there is no adequate quantitative understanding of these properties. In this paper we present an approach for determination of phenomenological cell motility and chemotaxis parameters, by analysis of a common leukocyte migration assay. Using data from a set of cell migration experiments reported in the literature, we show how to determine the value of the random motility coefficient and its dependence upon concentration of a tripeptide chemotactic attractant, as well as the value of the chemotaxis coefficient, assumed here to be independent of attractant concentration. These parameters can be used to improve quantitative understanding of the relationship between leukocyte motility and chemosensory behavior and effective functioning of the host inflammatory response.