FagoFlowEx

Examination of phagocytic activity by flow cytometry

Phagocytosis is the process of extinction and decomposition of microorganisms (e.g. extracellular bacteria) by specialised cells of the immune system. Phagocytosis is fundamental to innate human immunity. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophilic granulocytes), macrophages and dendritic cells are the effector cells in the process of phagocytosis.

Phagocytosis is preceded by chemotactic migration of the phagocytes (mainly neutrophilic granulocytes) into the site of inflammation. The foreign particles are then recognized, ingested (forming phagosome and phagolysosome), and finally destructed by oxygen-independent and oxygen-dependent mechanisms. The latter ones (the “oxidative burst”) involve a release of reactive oxygen radicals, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and hypochlorite. In this process the key enzymes are the NADPH oxidase and myeloperoxidase, whose malfunction leads to impaired bactericidal mechanisms.

With their FagoFlowEx Kit, our partner Exbio provides a state-of-the-art solution for the examination of defective phagocytosis by flow cytometry.

 

Exbio FagoFlowEx Kit (CE-IVD)

The FagoFlowEx Kit (Art. Nr. EXB-ED7042) is intended for examination of phagocytic activity of neutrophil granulocytes by measuring the respiratory (oxidative) burst after their stimulation with E. coli bacteria in human heparinized whole blood using flow cytometry.

Fig.1:  Histogram 1 -  overlay: Healthy donor without defect of respiratory burst, (SI = 98) Histogram 2 - overlay: Patient with MPO deficiency, (SI = 11) Histogram 3 - overlay: Male patient with CGD, (SI = 16) Histogram 4  - overlay: Female carrying X-linked mutation of the NADPH oxidase gene. Two granulocyte subpopulations differ in respiratory burst intensity, (SIlow = 13.9, SIhigh = 125).

 

Exbio IngoFlowEx Kit (RUO)

The IngoFlowEx Kit (Art. Nr. EXB-ED7040) is designed for quantification of phagocytic activity of human granulocytes and monocytes by measuring the ingestion of fluorescently labeled E. coli bacteria in human heparinized whole blood using flow cytometry.

Fig.2:  Gates for granulocytes and monocytes (left) and overlay of histograms of granulocyte and monocyte subpopulation (right).

Our partner company Exbio, a spin-off company of the Czech Academy of Sciences, develops and manufactures superior antibodies, kits and reagents for flow cytometry. Discover their portfolio of clinical assays: