Platelet Isolation and Activation Assays
[Abstract] Platelets regulate hemostasis and are the key determinants of pathogenic thrombosis following atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Platelets circulate in an inactive state, but become activated in response to damage to the endothelium, which exposes thrombogenic material such as collagen to the blood flow. Activation results in a number of responses, ...
Isolation and Long-term Cultivation of Mouse Alveolar Macrophages
[Abstract] Alveolar macrophages (AM) are tissue-resident macrophages that colonize the lung around birth and can self-maintain long-term in an adult organism without contribution of monocytes. AM are located in the pulmonary alveoli and can be harvested by washing the lungs using the method of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Here, we compared different ...
In vitro Infection of Primary Human Monocytes with HIV-1
[Abstract] Monocyte infection by HIV-1 is an important component of chronic HIV pathogenesis. Following infection by HIV-1, monocytes are able to cross the blood brain barrier and set up a viral reservoir in the central nervous system. Additionally, in the setting of chronic HIV-1 infection, monocytes can become activated either directly through HIV-1 ...
Induction and Analysis of Anti-CD40-induced Colitis in Mice
[Abstract] Colon inflammation or colitis affects more than 1 million people worldwide. Several pre-clinical models, including chemical-induced (i.e., DSS, TNBS) or pathogen-induced (i.e., Citrobacter rodentium) have been used to study mechanisms involved in the development and regulation of colitis. Anti-CD40 induced colitis model ...