Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cell Responses.

Flow cytometry is a fluorescence-based technology that allows for the identification and characterization of immune cell subsets within a heterogenous population. Briefly, isolated immune cells are stained in suspension with fluorescently tagged antibodies to identify cells of interest prior to being run through a flow cytometer. Here we describe how to isolate murine immune cells from various body regions, including the inguinal lymph nodes (ILNs), spleen, thymus, and peripheral blood, and tag them with primary fluorescent antibodies for flow cytometric analysis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations.

Rexinoids Modulate Effector T Cell Expression of Mucosal Homing Markers CCR9 and α4β7 Integrin and Direct Their Migration .

Altering T cell trafficking to mucosal regions can enhance immune responses towards pathogenic infections and cancers at these sites, leading to better outcomes. All--retinoic acid (ATRA) promotes T cell migration to mucosal surfaces by inducing transcription of the mucosal-homing receptors CCR9 and α4β7 binding to retinoic acid receptors (RARs), which heterodimerize with retinoid X receptors (RXRs) to function. However, the unstable nature and toxicity of ATRA limit its use as a widespread treatment modality for mucosal diseases.