免疫学技术

Measuring expression levels of cell surface antigens is important for the diagnosis of diseases such as B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the monitoring of targeted therapy, particularly antibody-based therapy. In some cases, the number of antigens that the therapeutic anti ...

HLA-DR expression on monocytes as a marker for the functioning of the immune system is known to be severely depressed in immunodeficiency. Up to now, other markers for the function of the immune system are scarce. In the peripheral blood of patients with open heart surgery the expression of the membra ...

As the signaling pathways involved in leukemogenesis are being elucidated, several proteins have emerged as potential targets for therapy. Downstream from those targets are numerous intracellular factors that are constantly modulated. Monitoring those factors could provi ...

The immunohistochemical evaluation of hematopoietic tissues has expanded our knowledge of both the function and pathological processes in a wide range of lymph nodal, extranodal tissues, and bone marrow. It is impossible to cover in detail the full range of immunohistochemical marke ...

Analytical cytometry has significant potential beyond cellular analysis. The inherent capability of flow cytometers to efficiently discriminate between uniformly sized particles based on their intrinsic properties provides the foundation for multiplex bead assays. The ...

Immunoglobulins (Igs) are a critical component of the adaptive immune system of both man and mouse. The ability to detect and characterize Igs is an invaluable technique for immunology in either a research or a clinical setting. The advent of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and m ...

After their activation, mast cells release a variety of bioactive mediators that contribute to characteristic symptoms of allergic reactions. Ex vivo analysis of mast cells derived from their progenitors or isolated from mice is an indispensable tool for the development of newer and more ...

Primary airway epithelial cell culture provides a valuable tool for studying cell differentiation, cell–cell interactions, and the role of immune system factors in asthma pathogenesis. In this chapter, we discuss the application of mouse tracheal epithelial cell cultures for the st ...

The role of macrophage subsets in allergic diseases in vivo is under current investigation. These cells perform sentinel functions in the lung, the skin, and the gastrointestinal mucosa. Their interface with environmental cues influences the initiation, progression, developmen ...

Eosinophils are prominent in allergic diseases, and their effector functions are studied in numerous gene-deleted and transgenic mouse models. However, mouse eosinophils and human eosinophils are not structurally or functionally equivalent, and assays designed to evaluate t ...

Lymphocyte characterization is primarily based on the differential expression of surface markers. In this context, flow-cytometry analysis (FACS) is an exceptional technique that not only allows the identification of B-cell subsets, but can also be used to evaluate cell function, ac ...

T lymphocytes play positive and negative roles in the pathogenesis of allergic disease. Isolation and functional characterization of T lymphocyte subpopulations is an important aspect of understanding allergy models and allergy therapies. Measurement of the T cell surface prot ...

Antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages comprise a relatively small fraction of leukocytes residing in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. Accordingly, functional analyses of these cells have been hampered by low cell yields. Also, alveolar mac ...

The creation of bone marrow and fetal liver chimeric mice has proven to be a valuable tool in the field of immunology. Chimeric mice are used to study the contribution of various cell types of hematopoietic versus non-hematopoietic origin in the course of an immune response. In this chapter, we descri ...

Multiparametric flow cytometry is a powerful technique that allows the quantification and characterization of heterogeneous populations of cells. Advances in flow cytometric instrumentation, software, and reagents are occurring at a rapid pace, and flow cytometric methods a ...

Transcript profiling reveals valuable insights to molecular and cellular activity related to disease. Gene expression profiles provide clues as to how tissues or cells in a particular environment may respond to stimuli. Gene-targeted examination of transcript changes is accomp ...

The increased incidence of asthma over the last 50 years in developed countries has been associated with a decrease in infections acquired early in childhood. These early infections are thought to shape subsequent immune responses. Although there have been multiple clinical associat ...

Isolated tracheal rings have often been used to directly measure the contractile output of airway smooth muscle (ASM). Here, we describe the method for excising murine tracheas, mounting tracheal rings in organ baths, and measuring the isometric forces generated by the ASM when stimulated ...

The generation of transgenic mouse models has been a powerful technique for several decades and is still widely used. There have been many manuals and general reviews of this technology. This chapter is designed to be a “how-to” resource with detailed specifics.

Airway remodeling is a term used to collectively indicate bronchial structural changes that may lead to irreversible airflow obstruction and progressive decline in lung function in asthmatic patients. Bronchial myofibroblasts contribute to airway remodeling by producing c ...