Patent ID: 7960131

Claim:
A method of assaying nucleotide receptor P2X 7 pore activity in white blood cells contained within a mixed cell sample, comprising the steps of: (a) labeling white blood cells contained within the mixed cell sample with a white blood cell-specific 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 P2X 7 agonist in an amount sufficient to activate nucleotide receptor P2X 7 pore activity; (d) contacting the labeled white blood cells of step (c) with a divalent cation in an amount sufficient to deactivate nucleotide receptor P2X 7 pore activity; and (e) analyzing dye uptake in the labeled white blood cells of step (d) whereby nucleotide receptor P2X 7 pore activity is quantified by the amount of dye taken up in labeled white blood cells treated with the P2X 7 agonist relative to labeled white blood cells in the absence of said P2X 7 agonist, and wherein said nucleotide receptor P2X 7 pore activity is corrected for sample age by subtracting nucleotide receptor P2X 7 pore activity contributed by nonviable white blood cells.