Flow cytometry as a tool for analysing invertebrate cells

Abstract

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a powerful tool that allows analysis of thousand of cells in a few seconds, at the single cell level. In the last 15 years, researchers have used FCM to investigate the cellular machinery of invertebrates. Analyses have focused on functions linked to innate immunity, such as phagocytosis and natural killer cell activity, as well as on the sensitivity of invertebrate cells to a particular stress or to a toxic agent. Further, FCM has been employed to recognize antigens, or at least immunodominant epitopes, shared in common with mammalian cells, including human leukocytes. In this review, main studies that have utilized FCM to investigate either phenotype and functions of invertebrate cells are reported and discussed.