Microfluidic Capture Device for Simple, Cell Surface Marker-Based Quantification of Senescent CD8⁺ T Cells

Among human CD8⁺ T cells, senescent cells are marked by the expression of CD57. The frequency of senescent CD57⁺CD8⁺ T cells is significantly correlated with aging and age-associated disorders, and it can be measured by multi-color flow cytometry. However, multi-color flow cytometry presents challenges in terms of accessibility and requires significant resource allocation. Therefore, developing a rapid and straightforward method for quantifying CD57⁺CD8⁺ T cells remains a key challenge. This study introduces a microfluidic device composed of a PDMS microfluidic channel with a pre-modified glass substrate for anti-CD8 antibody immobilization. This design allows blood samples to flow through, enabling the selective capture of CD8⁺ T cells while minimizing the required blood sample volume. This technology enables accurate and reliable quantification of CD57⁺ cells among captured CD8⁺ T cells through fluorescence image analysis. The ability of the device to easily quantify senescent CD57⁺CD8⁺ T cells is anticipated to contribute significantly to both immunological research and clinical applications.