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Flow cytometric measurement of phagocytosis reveals a role for C3b in metal particle uptake by phagocytes
Author(s) -
Baldwin L.,
Flanagan B. F.,
Hunt J. A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.30252
Subject(s) - phagocytosis , antibody opsonization , particle (ecology) , materials science , metal , biophysics , opsonin , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , biology , metallurgy , ecology
A methodology for the quick and efficient study of phagocytosis has been developed. It uses the flow cytometer to exploit the change in size and granularity that occurs in cells upon the ingestion of particulate material. The numbers of cells that have phagocytosed particles can be calculated from the distinct shift in regions that occurs. The method also allows the factors governing phagocytosis to be studied in detail through the use of blocking agents or antibodies. Blood‐derived monocytes were studied to investigate the role of complement in metal particle phagocytosis to further understand aseptic loosening. Factor C3b was found to be fundamental to the opsonization and phagocytosis of metal particles by monocytes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 73A: 80–85, 2005