A NOVEL APPROACH TO STUDY CELLULAR RESPONSES TO MINERAL EXPOSURES USING FLOW CYTOMETRY

Flow cytometry is a laser-based technology that is employed in detecting various characteristics of particles by suspending them in a stream of fluid and passing them by a detection apparatus. Flow cytometry has great potential since large cell populations (500,000 or more) can be measured. Using appropriate fluorescence markers a wide range of information about the cells can be determined; from cell death to cell activation and identification of the specific cell types involved in the immune response can also be determined.

The goal of our research was to develop new protocols to more effectively study the interaction between mineral particles and cells using flow cytometry. Work was done both on whole blood as well as on an individual mouse macrophage cell line.

Silica particles, as expected, provided a good positive control. Using flow cytometry we determined cell death rates when exposed to a series of increasing silica concentrations. Data determined an LD50 of 2 silica particles per cell. Latex beads proved to be a good negative control. Light microscopy was used to verify particle phagocytosis.

We conclude that these results support previous publication data and confirm that the use of flow cytometry can be used as a viable new method for investigating the cellular effects of silica, or other minerals.