Single-Cell Interrogation of the Immune System Using Microtools

Abstract

Immune cells mount their biological response and protect the host from pathogens by secreting bioactive molecules, communicating with other cells directly or via secreted agents, and migrating under flow or chemotactic gradients. This article summarizes recent advances in microfluidic technology and highlights examples of microtools used in studying the mentioned aspects of the immune response (i.e., secretion, migration, and intercellular communication) on a single-cell level. The article finally discusses the integration of microtools in medical applications and in studying immune signaling pathways.