ATP luminescence-based motility-invasion assay

Biotechniques. 2002 Jul;33(1):98-100, 102, 104 passim. doi: 10.2144/02331rr01.

Abstract

Directional motility and invasion assays are largely based on the use of Boyden chambers or Transwell culture inserts in which porous membranes separate seeded cells from a chemotactic factor supplied in the medium outside the chamber. The major obstaclefor most currently available assays is that they lack a sensitive, easy, and reliable method of quantifying the nonmotile cell populations. Failure to accountfor all cells within the assay chamber prohibits the determination of percentages of migrated cells. Here we describe an ATP luminescence-based motility-invasion (ALMI) assay that circumvents this problem, enabling investigators to quantify directional cell migration or invasiveness easily. The ALMI assay is based on the detection of ATP in viable cells harvested from inert surfaces that do not generate background signals. We demonstrate how the ALMI assay can be used to assess the effects of various experimental conditions such as growth factor stimulation and ethanol exposure on cell migration. In addition, precoating the membranes with extracellular matrix molecules enabled the measurement of the cell invasion. In conclusion, the ALMI assay provides a reliable and flexible method to quantify cell motility and invasiveness using a luminescence microplate reader.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / analysis*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Chemotaxis / drug effects
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ethanol / pharmacology
  • Extracellular Matrix
  • Fetal Blood / metabolism
  • Insulin / pharmacology
  • Luminescent Measurements
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / physiopathology*
  • Neuroglia / classification
  • Neuroglia / drug effects*
  • Neuroglia / physiology
  • Rats
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Insulin
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Ethanol
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1