Method Article

Visualization of Extracellular Traps in Macrophages from Human Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids

July 8th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

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Source: Sharma, R. et al., Visualizing Macrophage Extracellular Traps Using Confocal Microscopy. J. Vis. Exp. (2017)

This video demonstrates the immunolabeling of macrophage extracellular traps, METs, in bronchoalveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and their visualization using a confocal microscope.

Protocol

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All procedures involving sample collection have been performed in accordance with the institute's IRB guidelines.

1. Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) Macrophages

  1. Use BAL to obtain lung macrophages in (1) human subjects by bronchoscopy, and (2) mice by using intra-tracheal aspiration.
    NOTE: Acquisition of the macrophages generally causes some activation of these cells. Macrophages are obtained from patients who require a bronchoscopy to investigate a potential medical problem and not all subjects may be suitable for analysis of macrophage extracellular traps, or METs (this wil....

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Disclosures

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No conflicts of interest declared.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
Human samples: Primary antibodies
Rabbit anti-human H3Cit (Citrulline R26)AbcamAB510310 ug/ml
Mouse anti-human MMP9Novus BiologicalAB1199061:200 ascites, no concentration given
Rabbit anti-human PADI2/PAD2AbcamAB164787 ug/ml
Mouse anti-human PADI4/PAD4AbcamAB12808610.1 ug/ml
Secondary antibodies
Chicken anti-rabbit AF 488/Life technologiesA-21441
Chicken anti-rabbit AF 594Life technologiesA-21442
Chicken anti-goat AF 594Life technologiesa-21468
Chicken anti-mouse AF488Life technologiesA-21200
Software Programs
ImarisBitplane
Image JNIH
To average intensity of fluorphores a standard office application like Microsoft Excel can be used
Microscopes
C1 Confocal scanning microscopeNikon
FV1200 Confocal scanning microscopeOlympus
Human BAL samples from the bronchoscopy suite at Monash Medical Centre
Media
RPMISigma-Aldrichr8758
Fetal calf serumSigma-AldrichF0926
L-glutamineSigma-AldrichG7513
Other reagents
paraformaldehyde/periodate/lysine (PLP) fixativeSigma-Aldrich27387
Natural formalinSigma-Aldrich42904
Coverslips 12 mlSigma-AldrichS1815
Coverslips 60 x 24 mlSigma-AldrichC6875

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Tags

Macrophage Extracellular TrapsConfocal MicroscopyCitrullinated HistonesPADs DetectionMatrix MetalloproteinasesBronchoalveolar LavageCell FixationImmunofluorescence StainingDAPI StainingFluorescence Microscopy

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