Flow Cytometry

CD16 is a lymphocyte Fc gamma type III low-affinity receptor for IgG and is represented by two similar genes, CD16A (Fc gamma RIII A) and CD16B (Fc gamma RIIIB). CD16A exists as a heterooligomeric polypeptide-anchored form in macrophages and NK cells. CD16B exists as a monomeric glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored form in neutrophils. CD16 binds IgG in the form of immune complexes or free antibody. It exhibits preferential binding to IgG1 and IgG3 isotypes, with minimal binding of IgG2 and IgG4.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a well-structured composite of collagens, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and growth factors proficient of generating variable measures of tissue tensile potency, from mucosal linings to bones. ECM predominantly comprises the cellular milieu outside the circulation and is established as having a major regulatory effect on cell activity.  There has been a considerable amount of attention towards the disparate conditions in which ECM unambiguously sends or alters signals to the surrounding cells.

Hematopoiesis is a complicated process that is controlled by both intrinsic and extrinsic cellular factors. It is a process of progression by which the diverse cell pedigrees that develop the blood and immune system are spawned from a shared pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). Throughout the lifespan of an adult, two distinct hematopoietic systems are present, both resulting through embryonic development but only one of them enduring into adulthood.

Integrins are a group of trans-membrane receptors which encompass alpha and beta subunits acting as adhesion particles in addition to various other important cellular functions. Integrins are recognized to enable cell-cell, cell-ECM, cell-pathogen interface along with signaling through the plasma membrane comprising of critical cellular functions such as differentiation, migration in addition to survival. Several investigators have documented variations in integrin expression and function in several cancers.

Florescence activated cell sorting or Flow cytometry is responsible for many of the current innovations made against HIV. Newer-generation FACS machines, proficient of using multi-color panels, are allowing researchers to measure lymphocyte subsets more precisely and cost-effectively. In the case of HIV, flow cytometry can identify which cell subsets are affected by the infection among individual patients.

Florescence activated cell sorting or Flow cytometry permits concurrent measurements of numerous florescence and light scattered events by illuming single cells or molecules in suspension as they flow through a sensing area. Distinct cells or particles could be tangibly separated corresponding to their biochemical properties and biological parameters, while the light is scattered on the molecules either in the form of forward or side scatter.

Flow cytometry is one of the powerful tools for the investigators in immunological research involved in studying various immune cells. One of the main advantages of this technique is that is capable of multi-parameter measurements that can be accomplished on a single-cell basis. As a result of the advances in the flow cytometry researchers can now decrypt the phenotypes of several cell subsets in ways that were not possible using traditional assays, such as Western/immunoblotting, microarrays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.