White blood cell functional assay

1. A kit for measuring a nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity in white blood cells contained within a whole blood sample of a subject, the kit comprising:

(a) a white blood cell-specific antibody conjugated to a label configured for labeling white blood cells contained within the subject's whole blood sample;

(b) a dye capable of uptake by nucleotide receptor P2X7 pores;

(c) a P2X7 agonist in an amount sufficient to activate nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity in the white blood cells contained within the subject's whole blood sample;

(d) an isotonic depolarizing solution for depolarizing the labeled white blood cells: and

(e) instructional material describing labeling white blood cells contained within the whole blood sample with the white blood cell-specific antibody conjugated to a label; depolarizing the labeled white blood cells with the isotonic depolarizing solution; contacting the labeled white blood cells with the dye and the P2X7 agonist in an amount sufficient to activate nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity;

deactivating nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity; and analyzing dye uptake in the labeled white blood cells whereby nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity is quantified by the amount of dye taken up in labeled white blood cells treated with the P2X7 agonist relative to labeled white blood cells in the absence of said P2X7 agonist.

2. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the white blood cell -specific antibody conjugated to a label is a phycoerythrin-conjugated anti-CD14 antibody.

3. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the isotonic depolarizing solution comprises glutamate ion with the proviso that sodium and chloride ions and divalent cations are absent from said isotonic depolarizing solution in amounts effective to inhibit P2X7 pore activity.

4. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the dye is a DNA-binding dye having a mass of less than approximately 900 Daltons.

5. The kit according to claim 4 wherein said DNA-binding dye is YO-PRO-1.

6. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the P2X7 agonist is selected from the group consisting of 2′-3′-O-(4-benzoyl)-adenosine 5′-triphosphate (Bz-ATP), adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), 2-methylthio-adenosine 5′-triphosphate (2-MeS-ATP), adenosine 5′-(3 -thiotriphosphate) (ATP-gamma-S), 2-chloro-adenosine 5′-triphosphate (2-Cl -ATP), adenosine 5′(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate (AMPPNP), adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP), 2-methylthio-adenosine 5′-diphosphate (2-MeS-ADP), 2-chloro-adenosine 5′-diphosphate (2-Cl-ADP) and mixtures thereof.

7. The kit according to claim 1 further comprising a divalent cation in an amount sufficient to deactivate nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity in the white blood cells contained within the subject's blood sample.

8. The kit according to claim 7 wherein the divalent cation is magnesium ion.

9. The kit according to claim 1 wherein said instructional material further comprises a decision tree which, based on at least the nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity measured by said kit, directs a user to a subject-specific clinical pathway of medical intervention for said subject.

10. The kit according to claim 1 wherein said instructional material describes the analysis of dye uptake by flow cytometry, wherein said flow cytometry detects labeled white blood cells apart from non-labeled cells in whole blood and measures intensity of the dye taken up by the labeled white blood cells whereby nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity is quantified by the amount of dye taken up in labeled white blood cells in the absence of said P2X7 agonist.

11. A method of assaying nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity in white blood cells contained within a blood sample, comprising the steps of:

(a) labeling white blood cells contained within the blood sample with a white blood cell-specific antibody conjugated to a label;

(b) depolarizing the labeled white blood cells with an isotonic depolarizing solution;

(c) contacting the labeled white blood cells with a dye and a P2X7 agonist in an amount sufficient to activate nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity;

(d) contacting the labeled white blood cells of step (c) with a divalent cation in an amount sufficient to deactivate nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity; and

(e) analyzing dye uptake in the labeled white blood cells of step (d) whereby nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity is quantified by the amount of dye taken up in labeled white blood cells treated with the P2X7 agonist relative to labeled white blood cells in the absence of said P2X7 agonist.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the white blood cell-specific antibody conjugated to a label is a phycoerythrin-conjugated anti-CD 14 antibody.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the isotonic depolarizing solution comprises glutamate ion with the proviso that sodium and chloride ions and divalent cations are absent from said isotonic depolarizing solution in amounts effective to inhibit P2X7 pore activity.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the dye is a DNA-binding dye having a mass of less than approximately 900 Daltons.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said DNA-binding dye is YO-PRO-1.

16. A method according to claim 11 wherein the P2X7 agonist is selected from the group consisting of 2′-3′-O-(4-benzoyl)-adenosine 5′-triphosphate (Bz-ATP), adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), 2-methylthio-adenosine 5′-triphosphate (2-MeS-ATP), adenosine 5′-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP-gamma-S), 2-chloro-adenosine 5′-triphosphate (2-Cl-ATP), adenosine 5′(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate (AMPPNP), adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP), 2-methylthio -adenosine 5′-diphosphate (2-MeS-ADP), 2-chloro-adenosine 5′-diphosphate (2-Cl-ADP) and mixtures thereof.

17. A method according to claim 11 wherein the divalent cation is magnesium ion.

18. A method according to claim 11 wherein dye uptake in step (e) is measured by flow cytometry.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein said flow cytometry detects labeled white blood cells apart from non-labeled in wholo blood cells and measures intensity of the dye taken up by the labeled white blood cells whereby nucleotide receptor P2X7 pore activity is quantified by the amount of dye taken up in labeled white blood cells in the absence of said P2X7 agonist.