A quantitative high-throughput endothelial cell migration assay.

By combining the use of BD Biosciences FluoroBlok membrane-based Boyden chambers with the Cellomics HCS ArrayScan, a more sensitive method for measuring cell migration has been developed. This assay is based on counting nuclei of migrated cells on the bottom of the filter rather than conventional approaches, which use measurement of total well fluorescence. This cell migration assay provides approximately 10-fold increased signal/background compared to conventional approaches and can be used to assess the effects of growth factors on endothelial cell migration and to screen chemical compounds for inhibitory effects on growth factor-mediated endothelial cell migration.