Leukemia
and immune system implications
Leukemia is a rare cancer with many subtypes. The production of abnormal leukocytes create disruptions in the immune system and lead to a multitude of problems in the body. In order to study leukemia cell behavior, it is crucial to do so in a controlled environment.
With the BioFlux system, leukemia cells can be manipulated and analyzed in a high throughput, physiologically-relevant environment. Utilize controlled shear flow, pressure, and temperature for an assay that mimics conditions in the vasculature. Leukocyte behavior such as adhesion, rolling, migration, and transmigration can all be studied with BioFlux.

A two-inlet one-outlet well plate was used to dynamically compare the effects of acetylharpagide on human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1. The bottom well contained a media control while the top well flowed 200 μM acetylharpagide. Adherent (A) and transmigrated (B) THP-1 cells are labeled with white arrowheads. (C) Acetylharpagide significantly inhibited THP-1 cell transmigration through the HUVEC monolayer (You et al., 2014).
Blockade of CD62L inhibits CLL cell interaction with vascular endothelium
In this webinar, Dr. Chris Pepper discussed analyzing CD62L (L-selectin) behavior in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CD62L is a key adhesion molecule that promotes cell tethering and rolling along the vascular endothelium in the context of trafficking of lymphocytes into lymph nodes. CLL cells are highly dependent on the lymphoid microenvironment, which makes CD62L a potential therapeutic target in this disease. An assay was developed to measure chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell interactions with endothelium under shear force using a BioFlux 200, and blocked CD62L using the anti-CD62L antibody DREG-56.
Key BioFlux Advantages For Leukemia Studies
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Use the 24-well plate for parallel laminar flow to dynamically compare two different conditions, such as a treated vs. non-treated leukemia cell line, or perform an enzymatic wounding assay
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Examine leukocyte adhesion under shear flow conditions
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Utilize time-lapse microscopy under flow and post-experiment image analysis to determine leukocyte migration distance
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With the BioFlux heated stage insert, alter the temperature of experiments to analyze cells at ambient temperature or 37 C (a temperature permissive for leukocyte transmigration)
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Couple BioFlux analysis with IsoFlux CTC isolation technology