Single-Cell Flow Cytometry Profiling of BAL in Children

Abstract

Childhood pulmonary diseases not only cause childhood morbidity and mortality but also can cause long-term pulmonary impairment. The clinical management of many childhood pulmonary diseases is hampered by a limited understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Flow cytometry, which can be used to phenotype individual cell populations or isolate cells for downstream analysis, represents a crucial technology that can help to elucidate the pathophysiology of these conditions. Here, we describe a flow cytometry-based method for purification and characterization of cell populations in BAL from children. This includes assessment of the effect of cryopreservation on cell phenotype and frequency, a knowledge gap recently identified by an American Thoracic Society report on flow cytometry in lung samples. To our knowledge, this is the first study to simultaneously quantify alveolar macrophages, T cells (CD4 and CD8), B cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, granulocytes, and monocytes (CD16⁺/CD16^-) in the BAL of children. The protocols described can be used to advance investigation of the pathophysiology of childhood pulmonary diseases.

Keywords: BAL; cystic fibrosis; flow cytometry; lung diseases; pediatrics.