Preparation, characterization, and use of human and rodent lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils

This chapter describes some simple, concise protocols for the preparation, characterization, and use of leukocytes. The model systems used to examine the role of the nervous and endocrine systems in degenerative and inflammatory disease processes have ranged from simple in vitro proliferative assays to complex in vivo systems. Much of the progress that has been made in understanding the mechanisms of neuroimmunomodulation has come from in vitro studies using primary cultures of leukocytes. The chapter also describes methods that can be used to prepare leukocytes for in vitro studies, as well as methods for lymphocyte activation and analysis of second-messenger production. Several factors should be considered when designing a set of experiments. One of the most important is context.