Quantitative efferocytosis assays

Abstract

Efferocytosis, the phagocytic removal of apoptotic cells, is a dynamic process requiring recruitment of numerous regulatory proteins to forming efferosomes in a tightly regulated manner. Herein we describe microscopy-based methods for the enumeration of efferocytic events and characterization of the spatiotemporal dynamics of signaling molecule recruitment to efferosomes, using genetically encoded probes and immunofluorescent labeling. While these methods are illustrated using macrophages, they are applicable to any efferocytic cell type.