A Flow Cytometry-Based Examination of the Mouse White Blood Cell Differential in the Context of Age and Sex.

Analysis of the white blood cell differential as part of a flow cytometry-based approach is a common routine diagnostic tool used in clinics and research. For human blood, the methodological approach, suitable markers, and gating strategies are well-established. However, there is a lack of information regarding the mouse blood count.

TPC Functions in the Immune System.

Two-pore channels (TPCs) are novel intracellular cation channels, which play a key role in numerous (patho-)physiological and immunological processes. In this chapter, we focus on their function in immune cells and immune reactions. Therefore, we first give an overview of the cellular immune response and the partaking immune cells.

Two-Pore Channels Regulate Inter-Organellar Ca Homeostasis in Immune Cells.

Two-pore channels (TPCs) are ligand-gated cation-selective ion channels that are preserved in plant and animal cells. In the latter, TPCs are located in membranes of acidic organelles, such as endosomes, lysosomes, and endolysosomes. Here, we focus on the function of these unique ion channels in mast cells, which are leukocytes that mature from myeloid hematopoietic stem cells.

Lung emphysema and impaired macrophage elastase clearance in mucolipin 3 deficient mice.

Lung emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Excess macrophage elastase MMP-12, which is predominantly secreted from alveolar macrophages, is known to mediate the development of lung injury and emphysema. Here, we discovered the endolysosomal cation channel mucolipin 3 (TRPML3) as a regulator of MMP-12 reuptake from broncho-alveolar fluid, driving in two independently generated Trpml3 mouse models enlarged lung injury, which is further exacerbated after elastase or tobacco smoke treatment.

TPC1 deficiency or blockade augments systemic anaphylaxis and mast cell activity.

Mast cells and basophils are main drivers of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, for which prevalence is rapidly increasing. Activation of these cells leads to a tightly controlled release of inflammatory mediators stored in secretory granules. The release of these granules is dependent on intracellular calcium (Ca) signals.