Migration of mouse lymphocytes in vitro. I. Normal lymph node lymphocytes

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Lymphocyte migration is crucial for immune responses.
• Understanding factors influencing lymphocyte motility is essential for immunology research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the chemokinetic and chemotactic properties of mouse serum for normal unstimulated mouse lymph node lymphocytes (LNLs).
• To compare the migratory responses of LNLs, neutrophils, and macrophages to different serum conditions.
• To assess the influence of mouse strain and lymph node origin on LNL motility.

Main Methods:

• Utilized blind well chemotaxis chambers with 5-micrometer pore size cellulose nitrate membranes.
• Assessed lymphocyte migration using both the leading front technique and the mean aggregate number.
• Employed checkerboard assays to differentiate chemotaxis from chemokinesis.

Main Results:

• Mouse lymph node lymphocytes (LNLs) migrated in response to normal mouse serum (NMS), heat-inactivated mouse serum (HI-MS), and zymosan-activated mouse serum (ZAS).
• LNLs showed similar migration to NMS and HI-MS, while neutrophils responded less to HI-MS, and macrophages did not respond to HI-MS.
• ZAS significantly enhanced LNL migration compared to NMS and HI-MS; neutrophils and macrophages also responded strongly to ZAS.
• Mouse serum demonstrated both chemokinetic and chemotactic effects on LNLs, depending on the assessment technique.
• LNL motility varied between mouse strains and between peripheral and mesenteric lymph nodes.

Conclusions:

• Mouse serum contains factors that induce both chemokinesis and chemotaxis in lymphocytes.
• The described method provides a reliable system for studying lymphocyte motility.
• These findings contribute to understanding immune cell trafficking and function.