Potential Applications of Flow Cytometry Cell activation statusCell activation status Cell cycle distributionCell cycle distribution Cell divisionCell division ApoptosisApoptosis Differentiation stateDifferentiation state Cytokine SecretionCytokine Secretion Activation of signalling pathwaysActivation of signalling pathways Calcium fluxCalcium flux Levels of intracellular reactive oxygen speciesLevels of intracellular reactive oxygen species Immune reconstitution studiesImmune reconstitution studies Minimal Residual DiseaseMinimal Residual Disease
Activation IL-7 67% Medium 23% Activation FSC x SSC – Cell size
Activation CD69, CD71, etc
Tracking cell divisions with CFSE CFSE: Carboxy-fluorescein diacetate, succinimidyl ester (fluorescein molecule containing a succinimidyl ester functional group and two acetate moieties) Diffuses freely into cells Intracellular esterases cleave the acetate groups converting CFSE into a fluorescent, membrane impermeant dye. Not transferred to adjacent cells. Retained by the cell in the cytoplasm Does not adversely affect cellular function During each round of cell division, the relative intensity of the dye is decreased by half.
STAIN WITH CFSE DILUTION OF CFSE Cell Divisions
IL-7 IL-7+ DMSO IL-7+ PI3K Inhibitor IL-7+ Erk Inhibitor
Cell proliferation using Ki-67 staining
Cell Cycle Analysis DNA content analysis - Propidium Iodide
Cell Cycle Analysis DNA content analysis - Propidium Iodide DNA Content G0/G1 S Phase G2/M Or doublets of G0/G1 cells?
Cell Cycle Analysis Propidium Iodide plus BrdU staining Thymidine analog Taken up by cells in S-phase Usually in combination with Propidium iodide Cell cycle analysis - Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) method
Cell Cycle Analysis Propidium Iodide plus BrdU staining Propidium Iodide Anti-BrdU FITC G1 G2/M S Phase
(intracellular staining) Fix and permeabilize Analyse by Flow Cytometry Apoptosis Bcl-2 family members Add Antibody
Apoptosis Bcl-2 family members Bcl-2
CELL DEATH – FSC x SSC
Apoptosis Propidium Iodide (fixed cells)
Apoptosis Annexin V-fluorochrome plus Propidium Iodide (non-fixed cells)
Apoptosis Annexin V plus propidium Iodide
Apoptosis Annexin V plus propidium Iodide
Stimulate + Brefeldin A Incubate Wash and fix Stain for surface antigens Wash Permeabilize Wash Stain with cytokine- specific antibodies Intracellular Cytokine Staining Plus Surface Staining
Cytokine Secretion (intracellular cytokine staining) anti-hIL-2 Ab
Intracellular Cytokine Staining Plus Surface Staining IFN- CD8 / CD69
Activation of signalling pathways
Activation of signalling pathways (phospho-protein detection)
Combining surface markers with Phospho-staining