Induced locomotion of human and murine macrophages: a comparative analysis by means of the modified Boyden-chamber system and the agarose migration assay

Abstract

This study was designed to gain detailed information concerning the kinetic activity of connective tissue-derived macrophages from living human specimens. Their kinetic activity in vitro was estimated using the agarose-migration assay and the modified Boyden-chamber, and compared with that of murine peritoneal macrophages. These assays permit the distinction of chemotactic and chemokinetic patterns as well as spontaneous migration. These kinetic activities were stimulated by and calculated for ultrasound-crushed suspensions of Escherichia coli, zymosan-activated human serum, human serum albumin, casein-activated human serum, tripeptide f-Met-Leu-Phe (N-alpha-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine), phytohemagglutinin, modified Eagle's medium and phosphate buffer. Investigation of the migratory performance (in micron) in the Boyden-chamber and by the agarose migration assay for chemokinetics and chemotaxis by using tripeptides as chemotactically attracting agents revealed a somewhat higher activity in murine than in human macrophages.