A differential amplifier circuit for reducing noise in axial light loss measurements

Simplified electronics have been developed for reducing laser excitation source light intensity fluctuations in flow cytometric axial light loss (extinction) measurements. By continuously monitoring the laser output with a photodiode detector and combining it with the axial light loss signal from a second detector using a high-speed differential amplifier, background interference is reduced 10 to 40 dB. Oscilloscope waveforms and frequency distribution histograms recorded from uniform-size polystyrene latex spheres and human mononuclear blood cells are used to illustrate the noise reduction capabilities.     

Shape memory of human red blood cells

The human red cell can be deformed by external forces but returns to the biconcave resting shape after removal of the forces. If after such shape excursions the rim is always formed by the same part of the membrane, the cell is said to have a memory of its biconcave shape. If the rim can form anywhere on the membrane, the cell would have no shape memory. The shape memory was probed by an experiment called go-and-stop. Locations on the membrane were marked by spontaneously adhering latex spheres. Shape excursions were induced by shear flow. In virtually all red cells, a shape memory was found. After stop of flow and during the return of the latex spheres to the original location, the red cell shape was biconcave. The return occurred by a tank-tread motion of the membrane. The memory could not be eliminated by deforming the red cells in shear flow up to 4 h at room temperature as well as at 37 degrees C. It is suggested that 1). the characteristic time of stress relaxation is >80 min and 2). red cells in vivo also have a shape memory.     

Extracellular ATP reduces tumor sphere growth and cancer stem cell population in glioblastoma cells

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive tumor in the CNS and is characterized by having a cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulation essential for tumor survival. The purinergic system plays an important role in glioma growth, since adenosine triphosphate (ATP) can induce proliferation of glioma cells, and alteration in extracellular ATP degradation by the use of exogenous nucleotidases dramatically alters the size of gliomas in rats. The aim of this work was to characterize the effect of the purinergic system on glioma CSCs. Human U87 glioma cultures presented tumor spheres that express the markers of glioma cancer stem cells CD133, Oct-4, and Nanog. Messenger RNA of several purinergic receptors were differently expressed in spheres when compared to a cell monolayer not containing spheres. Treatment of human gliomas U87 or U343 as well as rat C6 gliomas with 100 μM of ATP reduced the number of tumor spheres when grown in neural stem cell medium supplemented with epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Moreover, ATP caused a decline in the number of spheres observed in culture in a dose-dependent manner. ATP also reduces the expression of Nanog, as determined by flow cytometry, as well as CD133 and Oct-4, as analyzed by flow cytometry and RT-PCR in U87 cells. The differential expression of purinergic receptor in tumor spheres when compared to adherent cells and the effect of ATP in reducing tumor spheres suggest that the purinergic system affects CSC biology and that ATP may be a potential agonist for differentiation therapy.     

Characterisation of FAP-1 expression and CD95 mediated apoptosis in the A818-6 pancreatic adenocarcinoma differentiation system

The present study investigated the expression and localisation of FAP-1 (Fas associated phosphatase-1) and CD95 in a 3D differentiation model in comparison to 2D monolayers of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line A818-6. Under non-adherent growth conditions, A818-6 cells differentiate into 3D highly organised polarised epithelial hollow spheres, resembling duct-like structures. A818-6 cells showed a differentiation-dependent FAP-1 localisation. Cells grown as 2D monolayers revealed FAP-1 staining in a juxtanuclear cisternal position, as well as localisation in the nucleus. After differentiation into hollow spheres, FAP-1 was relocated towards the actin cytoskeleton beneath the outer plasma membrane of polarised cells and no further nuclear localisation was observed. CD95 surface staining was found only in a subset of A818-6 monolayer cells, while differentiated hollow spheres appeared to express CD95 in all cells of a given sphere. We rarely observed co-localisation of CD95 and FAP-1 in A818-6 monolayer cells, but strong co-localisation beneath the outer plasma membrane in polarised cells. Analysis of surface expression by flow cytometry revealed that only a subset (36%) of monolayer cells showed CD95 surface expression, and after induction of hollow spheres, CD95 presentation at the outer plasma membrane was reduced to 13% of hollow spheres. Induction of apoptosis by stimulation with agonistic anti-CD95 antibodies, resulted in increased caspase activity in both, monolayer cells and hollow spheres. Knock down of FAP-1 mRNA in A818-6 monolayer cells did not alter resposiveness to CD95 agonistic antibodies. These data suggested that CD95 signal transduction was not affected by FAP-1 expression in A818-6 monolayer cells. In differentiated 3D hollow spheres, we found a polarisation-induced co-localisation of CD95 and FAP-1. A tight control of receptor surface representation and signalling induced apoptosis ensures controlled removal of individual cells instead of a "snowball effect" of apoptotic events.     

Interaction forces between red cells agglutinated by antibody. I. Theoretical.

A general method of calculating forces, torques, and translational and rotational velocities of rigid, neutrally buoyant spheres suspended in viscous liquids undergoing a uniform shear flow has been given by Arp and Mason (1977). The method is based on the matrix formulation of hydrodynamic resistances in creeping flow by Brenner and O'Neill (1972). We describe the solution of the Brenner-O'Neill force-torque vector equation in terms of the particle and external flow field coordinates and derive expressions for the normal force acting along, and the shear force acting perpendicular to, the axis of the doublet of spheres, the latter explicitly given for the first time. The equations consist of a term comprising force and torque coefficients obtained from the matrices of the hydrodynamic resistances (functions of the distance h between sphere surfaces which have been computed), and terms comprising the orientation of the doublet axis relative to the coordinates of the external flow field and the shear stress (which can be experimentally determined). We have applied the theory to a system of doublets of sphered, hardened human red cells of group A or B antigenic type cross-linked by the corresponding antibody at a fixed interparticle distance. Working from studies of the breakup of doublets of red cells in an accelerating Poiseuille flow, given in the succeeding paper, we are able to compute the hydrodynamic force required to separate the two spheres. Previous work has shown that the theory can be applied to doublets in a variable shear, Poiseuille flow, provided the ratio of particle to tube diameter is small. In calculating the force-torque coefficients it was assumed that the cells are crosslinked by antibody with h = 20 nm.     

New possibilities for studying complex macromolecular structures of the cell by encasing cells in polyacrylamide microspheres]

A method is proposed for incorporation of mammalian cells into spheres permeable for protein molecules, the dimensions of these spheres not overcoming those of the cells. The method permits fractionation of the cells, preserving them as discrete units resistant to mechanical and hydrodynamic destruction in the course of routine laboratory manipulations, as well as using flow cytometry for their analysis. With this approach, the flow cytometric measurements were made of DNA being shielded in the chromatin complex which prevents from binding fluorescent dyes with low-molecular weights.     

Cardiac output distribution and regional blood flow during hypocarbia in monkeys

Cardiac output distribution and regional blood flow were studied during hypocarbia independent of changes in ventilatory parameters. Fifteen cynomolgus monkeys were anesthetized with methohexital sodium (8 mg/kg im) and hyperventilated through an endotracheal tube. Hypocarbia at two levels, 28 +/- 1.8 and 17 +/- 0.6 Torr, was achieved by a stepwise decreasing CO2 flow into the semiclosed system. Regional blood flow was determined with labeled microspheres. At each stage of experiments two sets of microspheres (9 and 15 microns diam) were used simultaneously. The use of two microsphere sizes allowed evaluation of the relationship between total (nutritive and nonnutritive) tissue blood flow, determined with 15-microns spheres, and nutritive blood flow, determined with 9-microns spheres. There was no change in cardiac output or arterial pressure during both degrees of studied hypocarbia. Hypocarbia was accompanied by a decrease in myocardial blood flow determined with 15-microns spheres and preservation of the flow determined with 9-microns spheres. Splenic blood flow was decreased, whereas hepatic arterial blood flow was increased during both levels of hypocarbia. Blood flow through the brain, renal cortex, and gut showed a biphasic response to hypocarbia: during hypocarbia at 28 +/- 1.8 Torr, blood flow determined with 15-microns spheres was unchanged (in the gut) or decreased (in the brain and kidneys), whereas blood flow determined with 9-microns spheres was decreased. During hypocarbia at 17 +/- 0.6 Torr, blood flow determined with 9-microns spheres had a tendency to restore to base-line values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Particle deposition in arteries ex vivo: effects of pressure,flow, and waveform

The goal of this study was to quantify the effect of hemodynamic pressure, flow and waveform perturbations on the deposition of protein-sized particles in porcine carotid arteries ex vivo. An ex vivo perfusion system was used to control the pressure and flow environment for excised arterial tissue. Confocal laser microscopy images revealed that 200 nm particles were deposited intimally and that more spheres were evident along vessels perfused under oscillatory waveform conditions than all others. Under all pressure, flow and waveform conditions, particles were excluded from the media and adventitia of the vessel wall. The steady flow data support the use of Darcy's Law with pressure-dependent hydraulic permeability to model arterial tissue.     

Single-cell entrapment and microcolony development within uniform microspheres amenable to flow cytometry.

A method is presented for encapsulating single microbial cells in small spheres suitable for analysis and sorting by flow cytometry. The entrapped cells are able to multiply and form colonies contained within their respective microspheres. The system is based on ejecting the cells suspended in a gellable liquid through an orifice vibrating at ultrasonic frequencies, thus shearing the cell-containing jet into uniform droplets. When low-melting-temperature agarose was used, the droplets could be gelled into solid spheres during flight by appropriately directed colling air streams. This gelling was accompanied by significant dehydration, resulting in a twofold decrease in bead diameter and a corresponding increase in agarose concentration. Nevertheless, the microbeads obtained were highly uniform and had diameters which could be precisely controlled in the range of 10 to 40 microns. A variety of bacterial and yeast species were entrapped in agarose beads by using this system. In all cases the cells were able to develop into microcolonies containing as many as several hundred cells. This system enables one to apply the powerful method of flow cytometry to the analysis and sorting of whole microbial colonies. Potential applications of this technology in various areas of microbiology are considered.     

Single-cell entrapment and microcolony development within uniform microspheres amenable to flow cytometry

A method is presented for encapsulating single microbial cells in small spheres suitable for analysis and sorting by flow cytometry. The entrapped cells are able to multiply and form colonies contained within their respective microspheres. The system is based on ejecting the cells suspended in a gellable liquid through an orifice vibrating at ultrasonic frequencies, thus shearing the cell-containing jet into uniform droplets. When low-melting-temperature agarose was used, the droplets could be gelled into solid spheres during flight by appropriately directed colling air streams. This gelling was accompanied by significant dehydration, resulting in a twofold decrease in bead diameter and a corresponding increase in agarose concentration. Nevertheless, the microbeads obtained were highly uniform and had diameters which could be precisely controlled in the range of 10 to 40 microns. A variety of bacterial and yeast species were entrapped in agarose beads by using this system. In all cases the cells were able to develop into microcolonies containing as many as several hundred cells. This system enables one to apply the powerful method of flow cytometry to the analysis and sorting of whole microbial colonies. Potential applications of this technology in various areas of microbiology are considered.     

Assessment of the interplay between scaffold geometry,induced shear stresses,and cell proliferation within a packed bed perfusion bioreactor

By favoring cell proliferation and differentiation, perfusion bioreactors proved efficient at optimizing cell culture. The aim of this study was to quantify cell proliferation within a perfusion bioreactor and correlate it to the wall shear stress (WSS) distribution by combining 3-D imaging and computational fluid dynamics simulations.NIH-3T3 fibroblasts were cultured onto a scaffold model made of impermeable polyacetal spheres or Polydimethylsiloxane cubes. After 1, 2, and 3 weeks of culture, constructs were analyzed by micro-computed tomography (μCT) and quantification of cell proliferation was assessed. After 3 weeks, the volume of cells was found four times higher in the stacking of spheres than in the stacking of cube.3D-μCT reconstruction of bioreactors was used as input for the numerical simulations. Using a lattice-Boltzmann method, we simulated the fluid flow within the bioreactors. We retrieved the WSS distribution (PDF) on the scaffolds surface at the beginning of cultivation and correlated this distribution to the local presence of cells after 3 weeks of cultivation. We found that the WSS distributions strongly differ between spheres and cubes even if the porosity and the specific wetted area of the stackings were very similar. The PDF is narrower and the mean WSS is lower for cubes (11 mPa) than for spheres (20 mPa). For the stacking of spheres, the relative occupancy of the surface sites by cells is maximal when WSS is greater than 20 mPa. For cubes, the relative occupancy is maximal when the WSS is lower than 10 mPa. The discrepancies between spheres and cubes are attributed to the more numerous sites in stacking of spheres that may induce 3-D (multi-layered) proliferation.     

Measurement of gastric blood flow with radioactive microspheres.

The validity of using radioactive microspheres (15 +/- 5-mum diameter) to measure gastric blood flow and its partition between gastric wall layers was investigated in anesthetized dogs with a chambered segment of gastric corpus. Total flow measured by a venous effluent technique demonstrated close correlation with microsphere-measured flow (r = 0.98, slope = 0.95) in 12 dogs given histamine, gastrin, or isoproterenol. In 12 histamine-stimulated dogs, mucosal flow measured by aminopyrine clearance and by microspheres also showed good agreement (r = 0.96, slope = 0.83). No evidence was found to indicate that microspheres altered hemodynamic or gastric function. In all experiments less than 1% of the total gastric radioactivity passed through arteriovenous shunts. The mucosa always contained a statistically adequate number of spheres (greater than 400), but the submucosa and muscularis frequently did not. Microspheres of all sizes mixed adequately in large arteries, but a significant difference was found in the distribution of 16- and 26 mum spheres between mucosa and submucosa, presumably because of streaming of the larger spheres past mucosal arteries. It was concluded that, with the techniques developed in our laboratory, microspheres could be a highly useful tool for quantitating gastric regional blood flow under a variety of experimental conditions.     

Turbulent flow of red cells in dilute suspensions. Effect on kinetics of O2 uptake.

The turbulent flow properties of dilute (0.06% by volume) suspensions of human red blood cells in 4-mm-bore glass tubing were estimated by laser anemometry. The flow properties of the dilute red cell suspension were similar to those of a dilute suspension of polystyrene spheres (0.5 micron diameter) in isotonic NaCl solution. Flow was found to be laminar when the Reynolds number was below 2,000, transitional in the range of Reynolds numbers from 2,000 to 3,000, and fully turbulent above Reynolds number 3,000. These results differ from previous studies of more concentrated red cell suspensions. The length scales of the turbulence were also estimated: at a Reynolds number near 4,000 the macroscale is about 1.25 mm, the Taylor microscale is about 0.85 mm, and the Kolmogoroff scale is near 0.075 mm. The results are discussed in relation to previous measurements of the rate of oxygen uptake by dilute red cell suspensions in the flow-type rapid reaction apparatus. Our results suggest that under the conditions of most of these oxygen uptake measurements, the turbulent flow is characterized by eddies about 1 mm across, mixing with each other on a time scale of about 45 ms. Since most of the reported oxygen uptake measurements involve a similar time scale, it is possible that an effective "unstirred layer" influenced the reported rate of oxygen uptake.     

Characterizing aquatic bacteria according to population, cell size, and apparent DNA content by flow cytometry

Flow cytometry offers a rapid method for characterizing aquatic populations according to the properties of individual cells. This technology has been extended to aquatic bacteria by using high-intensity UV excitation, condensing the laser beam onto a small area, using blemish-free flow cells, optimizing organism staining protocol, segregating the optical signal produced with high-transmittance optical filters, collecting the signal with sensitive photomultipliers, and expanding the range of data displayed from individual samples with calibrated circuitry. Bacteria could be counted according to event frequency, and populations agreed with direct counts by epifluorescence microscopy. Forward scatter intensity was a linear function of volume for bacterial cells between 1.3 and 0.25 micron 3 as calibrated by Coulter impedance. Plastic spheres down to 0.014 micron 3, 0.3 micron in diameter, were resolved. Aquatic bacteria 0.05 micron 3 in volume were clearly resolved according to DNA content by staining with DAPI. The observed signal was DNA-dependent because DNase treatment eliminated most fluorescence. These procedures are suitable for direct analysis of the bacteria in marine and freshwater samples without interference from algae, sediment, or most DNA-free organic particles. Cytograms indicated one or more clearly resolved subpopulations of bacteria of substantially smaller size and DNA content than the laboratory organisms typically classified.     

CXCR4 positive cells from Lewis lung carcinoma cell line have cancer metastatic stem cell characteristics

There is increasing evidence that cancer stem cells contribute to the initiation and propagation of many tumor. Therefore, to find out and identify the metastatic tumor stem-like cells in Lewis lung cancer cell line (LLC), the expression of CXCR4 was measured in LLC by flow cytometry and observed by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). After the CXCR4(+) LLC cell was isolated from LLC by magnetic cell sorting, its properties were evaluated by their tumorigenic and metastatic potentials. CXCR4(+) cells were counted for 0.18% of the total number of LLC, and immunofluorescent staining cells were identified by LSCM. CXCR4(+) LLC suspension cultured in a serum-free medium, cell spheres expressed a high level of Sca-1. The chemotherapy sensitivity to cisplatin of CXCR4(+) LLC was lower than that of CXCR4(-) LLC. The expression of ABCG2 and IGF1R mRNA in CXCR4(+) LLC was higher than that in CXCR4(-) LLC (P < 0.01). Most of CXCR4(+) LLC cells were close to vascular endothelial cells, aberrant vasculature around it was forming. The expression of VEGF and MMP9 mRNA in CXCR4(+) LLC was higher than that in CXCR4(-) LLC (P < 0.05), the microvessel density (MVD) of CXCR4(+) subsets growing were higher than that of CXCR4(-) subsets growing tumor tissue (P < 0.01). The tumor size, volume, and metastatic foci in the lungs of CXCR4(+) LLC was significantly higher than that in CXCR4(-) LLC (P < 0.001). Similarly, elevated expression of MMP9 and VEGF was also positively associated with CXCR4(+) LLC. Our results demonstrated that CXCR4(+) cells from Lewis lung carcinoma cell line exhibit cancer metastatic stem cell characteristics.     

Detection and separation of the submetacentric marker chromosome of the WALKER (W-256) carcinoma using flow cytometry and sorting

Summary The chromosomes of WALKER (W-256) carcinoma cells have been separated into different DNA subclasses using DAPI for quantitative DNA staining and laser flow cytometry. The submetacentric marker chromosome could be isolated and its DNA content was determined to be 1.3 pg. One microgram marker DNA was obtained after separation of about 750 000 marker chromosomes by means of electronic flow sorting. The chromosomal composition of sorted fractions was analyzed by microscopy following banding of sorted chromosomes. The average morphological purity obtained was about 83%.     

Detection and separation of the submetacentric marker chromosome of the WALKER (W-256) carcinoma using flow cytometry and sorting

The chromosomes of WALKER (W-256) carcinoma cells have been separated into different DNA subclasses using DAPI for quantitative DNA staining and laser flow cytometry. The submetacentric marker chromosome could be isolated and its DNA content was determined to be 1.3 pg. One microgram marker DNA was obtained after separation of about 750 000 marker chromosomes by means of electronic flow sorting. The chromosomal composition of sorted fractions was analyzed by microscopy following banding of sorted chromosomes. The average morphological purity obtained was about 83%.     

BTI基因转染诱导EC9706细胞凋亡及G_1阻滞

为了研究荞麦胰蛋白酶抑制剂(buckwheat trypsin inhibitor,BTI)对肿瘤细胞凋亡与细胞周期的影响,构建增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)与BTI融合蛋白真核表达质粒.将BTI基因成功克隆至pEGFP-N1中转染食管癌EC9706细胞后,激光共聚焦显微镜镜检显示,BTI-EGFP获得良好表达.表达的融合蛋白大部分分布于细胞核,在细胞质中有少量分布.Western印迹检测可见约27kD和36 kD的特异性条带.流式细胞术分析结果显示,BTI能够诱导EC9706细胞发生凋亡,并使细胞停滞于G0/G1期.     

胃癌SGC-7901细胞株侧群细胞分选及生物学特性的初步研究

目的:分选胃癌细胞株中的侧群(side population,SP)细胞并初步研究其相关生物学特性。方法:选择人胃癌细胞株SGC-7901,以荧光染料Hoechst 33342染色,维拉帕米拮抗对照,应用流式细胞仪检测并分选出SP细胞和nonSP细胞。CCK-8法观察两组细胞体外增殖活性;体外耐药实验检测两组细胞对化疗药物5-FU的耐药存活率;无血清培养基培养观察肿瘤球形成能力;荧光定量PCR检测干细胞相关基因Musashi-1和CD44在两组细胞中的表达差异;裸鼠体内成瘤实验观察两组细胞体内成瘤能力。 结果:胃癌细胞株SGC-7901中SP细胞的比例为2.8%,与nonSP细胞相比,SP细胞具有较强的体外增殖活性(P<0.05),对5-FU的耐药存活率明显高于nonSP细胞(P<0.05),在无血清培养基中能形成明显的肿瘤球,SP细胞中Musashi-1和CD44mRNA的相对表达量明显高于nonSP细胞(P<0.05),裸鼠体内成瘤实验表明,皮下注射2×10³ 个SP细胞就能形成肿瘤,而2×10⁴ 个nonSP细胞也不能形成肿瘤。 结论:胃癌细胞株SGC-7901中存在数量极少的SP细胞,SP细胞具有肿瘤干细胞的相关生物学特性。     

β2微球蛋白在骨髓基质干细胞的表达

通过流式细胞技术和激光共聚焦显微镜探索骨髓基质干细胞（bone mesenchymal stemcells,BMSCs）β2微球蛋白（beta 2 microglobulin,β2M）的表达情况。取第3代相同状态的SD大鼠骨髓基质干细胞,分为A、B两组,A组为未分化的BMSCs,B组为软骨诱导分化1周的BMSCs,两组均采用流式细胞技术和激光共聚焦显微镜分别从数量和细胞轮廓上检测β2M的表达。流式细胞仪和激光共聚焦显微镜检测结果均表明,未分化BMscs的β2M表达明显低于软骨诱导分化的BMSCs。结果表明,未分化的BMSCs免疫原性较低,处于软骨分化的BMSCs免疫原性明显增强。