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Microfluidic Immunoassays for Time-Resolved Measurement of Protein Secretion from Single Cells
Mai Yamagishi1, Osamu Ohara2,3,4, Yoshitaka Shirasaki1,5
1Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan;
Insights
Single-cell analysis of protein secretion is now possible using advanced microfluidic immunoassays. This review covers time-resolved platforms for monitoring cellular communication and states in systems biology.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Humoral factors secreted by cells are vital for cell-cell communication and reflect cellular states.
- Traditionally, cell ensembles were measured, but single-cell analysis is now feasible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current time-resolved immunoassay platforms for single-cell protein secretion.
- To discuss future perspectives of these assays in systems biology.
Main Methods:
- Microfluidic technology enables miniaturized platforms for immunoassays.
- Highly sensitive immunoassays allow quantification of secreted factors from individual cells.
- Focus on time-resolved assays for protein secretion with single-cell resolution.
Main Results:
- Recent advances have enabled quantification of secreted factors from individual cells.
- Various miniaturized platforms for single-cell protein immunoassays have been reported.
- Time-resolved assays provide insights into cellular dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Single-cell resolution in protein secretion assays is a significant advancement.
- Time-resolved immunoassays are crucial for understanding cellular dynamics in systems biology.
- Future developments will further enhance the capabilities of single-cell secretion analysis.
Abstract:
Measurement of humoral factors secreted from cells has served as an indispensable method to monitor the states of a cell ensemble because humoral factors play crucial roles in cell-cell interaction and aptly reflect the states of individual cells. Although a cell ensemble consisting of a large number of cells has conventionally been the object of such measurements, recent advances in microfluidic technology together with highly sensitive immunoassays have enabled us to quantify secreted humoral factors even from individual cells in either a population or a temporal context. Many groups have reported various miniaturized platforms for immunoassays of proteins secreted from single cells. This review focuses on the current status of time-resolved assay platforms for protein secretion with single-cell resolution. We also discuss future perspectives of time-resolved immunoassays from the viewpoint of systems biology.
