METHOD FOR THE MULTI-PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH BY FLOW CYTOMETRY

摘要

The present invention discloses a simple method (Fixed Apoptotic/Necrotic cells test: FAN) that is not influenced by fixation or permeabilization of cells, thus permitting complete multi-parametric flow cytometric analyses of cells undergoing programmed cell death even several days after the staining. FAN uses reagents that maintain their binding and fluorescence characteristics after fixation and/or permeabilization: a fluorochrome-labelled anti-phosphatidylserine antibody and a choice of fluorescent amine-binding dyes. FAN represents a new tool to study cells undergoing apoptosis and/or necrosis with exclusive characteristics, which make it the unique flow cytometry method in the study of infections when fixation procedures are required for safe sample handling.