Cell cycle dependence of Hoechst 33342 dye cytotoxicity on sorted living cells

Summary The effect of staining cellular DNA with the bisbenzimidazole dye Hoechst 33342 on the colony forming efficiency of Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells in different cell cycle phases has been studied. Exposures of 90 and 120 min to 5 M Hoechst 33342 provided a considerable loss of clonogenicity depending on the cycle phase at staining procedure. The G2+M cells reveal to be the most sensitive fraction followed by the G1 cells. The highest resistance was found on S-phase cells with a colony forming efficiency exceeding that of the G2+M fraction by a factor of two.     

LRP16影响宫颈癌Siha细胞对化疗药物的敏感性

目的:探讨抑制LRP16的表达对宫颈癌Siha细胞的化疗药物敏感性的影响。方法:将抑制LRP16表达的小干扰RNA:negativecontrol-si RNA(NC)、si RNA-374(si374)转染入Siha宫颈鳞癌细胞系中,通过顺铂(DDP)和紫杉醇(TAX)的处理后,采用CCK-8检测不同浓度紫杉醇、顺铂作用宫颈癌细胞系Siha48 h后,计算出细胞被抑制一半时顺铂、紫杉醇的药物浓度(IC50);使用Hoechst33342染色观察细胞凋亡,采用流式细胞仪检测顺铂IC50作用Siha细胞48小时后的细胞凋亡情况,紫杉醇IC50作用Siha细胞之后的细胞周期分布情况。结果:CCK-8检测转染的Siha细胞增殖活性受到抑制,Hoechst33342染色观察转染的Siha细胞凋亡明显增加,流式细胞仪检测凋亡显示,si374+顺铂的早期凋亡率22.15±2.24,NC+顺铂12.45±2.72,流式细胞仪检测周期显示G2/M(%),si374+紫杉醇29.94±1.87,NC+紫杉醇17.66±2.32。结论:LRP16基因表达下调之后,抑制Siha细胞的增殖、促进其凋亡,使细胞周期滞留于G2/M期,从而提高Siha细胞的化疗敏感性。     

Target cell susceptibility to immune lysis and expression of MHC antigens are independent of position in the cell cycle

We have investigated the effects of progression through the mitotic cell cycle upon the tumor (P815) cell line's expression of H-2 antigens and susceptibility to immune cytolysis. By using a combination of DNA quantitation by Hoechst 33342 staining and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis we were able to obtain pure populations of G1, S, and G2+M cells for study. Furthermore, by employing a fluorescence quenching technique utilizing bromodeoxyuridine substitution we were able to monitor the times required for the P815 cells to transit each of the various phases. By using mAb and cloned CTL populations with well-defined specificities we observed that neither H-2 antigen expression nor lytic susceptibility to mAb plus complement or CTL fluctuated with cell cycle progression. Each of the three major MHC loci (H-2Kd, -Dd, and -Ld) was analyzed. These results demonstrated that expression of H-2 antigens and susceptibility to immune lysis were independent of a cell's position in the cell cycle.     

紫花牡荆素诱导人肝癌HepG2细胞凋亡的研究

目的：研究紫花牡荆素（Casticin）对肝癌HepG2细胞增殖抑制和凋亡诱导的作用,并探讨其作用机制。方法：用终浓度为0、0.5、1.0、2.0umol/L的Casticin作用于HepG2细胞,于12、24、48h后采用MTT法检测细胞增殖抑制率;Hoechst33342核染色,观察细胞形态学变化;24h后收集各组肝癌HepG2细胞,流式细胞术检测细胞周期及凋亡率;RT-PCR检测survivin mRNA表达。结果：MTT法检测显示,Casticin对肝癌HepG2细胞有增殖抑制作用,并存在浓度和时间依赖关系;Hoechst33342染色后,可见核染色质凝集,凋亡细胞呈致密浓染,与对照组相比,Casticin处理后凋亡细胞比例增加;Casticin作用24h后,细胞被阻滞于G2/M期,随药物质量浓度的增加,细胞凋亡率逐渐增加;RT-PCR结果显示,Casticin下调肝癌HepG2细胞survivin mRNA表达。结论：Casticin在体外对肝癌HepG2细胞有明显的增殖抑制和凋亡诱导作用,初步推断Casticin诱发肝癌细胞凋亡与其对survivin基因表达的抑制有关。     

PPAR??激动剂罗格列酮对人乳腺癌细胞生长 抑制及诱导凋亡作用研究

目的:观察氧化酶体激活物增殖受体(PPARγ)激动剂罗格列酮(ROZ)在体外激活PPARγ后对MCF-7细胞的生长抑制及诱导凋亡作用。方法:MTT法检测ROZ对MCF-7细胞的生长抑制作用;集落形成实验观察ROZ对MCF-7细胞集落形成的影响;不同浓度ROZ作用72h,Hoechst33342染色观察MCF-7细胞的形态变化,流式细胞光度分析术(FCM)检测凋亡细胞百分率以及ROZ对细胞周期的影响;Western blot方法检测ROZ对MCF-7细胞Bcl-2、Caspase-3表达的影响。结果:ROZ可呈剂量依赖性抑制MCF-7细胞的生长及集落形成。ROZ浓度为6×10-5M和3×10-4M时则G1期细胞数明显增加,S期相应减少。Hoechst33342染色经ROZ处理的肿瘤细胞染色质呈颗粒状,且有凋亡小体出现。FCM检测结果显示,ROZ作用72h凋亡细胞数达22.05%。Western blot提示ROZ可抑制Bcl-2表达,促进Caspase3表达。结论:ROZ在体外可抑制MCF-7细胞的增殖并诱导其凋亡,这可能与其抑制Bcl-2表达、促进caspase3表达有关。提示ROZ有望成为乳腺癌治疗药或肿瘤治疗的辅助用药,PPARγ有潜力成为肿瘤治疗的新靶点。     

Elevation of Survivin Levels by Hematopoietic Growth Factors Occurs in Quiescent CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Before Cell Cycle Entry

Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family that is over-expressed during G2/M phase in most cancer cells. In contrast, we previously reported that Survivin is expressed throughout the cell cycle in normal CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells stimulated by the combination of Thrombopoietin (Tpo), Stem Cell Factor (SCF) and Flt3 ligand (FL). In order to address whether Survivin expression is specifically up-regulated by hematopoietic growth factors before cell cycle entry, we isolated quiescent CD34+ cells and investigated Survivin expression in response to growth factor stimulation. Survivin is up-regulated in CD34+ cells with 2N DNA content following growth factor addition, suggesting it becomes elevated during G0/G1. Survivin is barely detectable in freshly isolated umbilical cord blood (UCB) Ki-67negative and Cyclin Dnegative CD34+ cells, however incubation with Tpo, SCF and FL for 20 hrs results in up-regulation without entry of cells into cell cycle. Culture of G0 CD34+ cells isolated based on Hoechst 33342/PyroninY staining with Tpo, SCF and FL for 48 hrs, results in significantly elevated Survivin mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, labeling of fresh G0 CD34+ cells with 5-(and 6-) carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) before culture with growth factors for up to 72 hrs, revealed that Survivin expression was elevated in CFSEbright G0 CD34+ cells, indicating that up-regulation occurred before entry into G1. These results suggest that up-regulation of Survivin expression in CD34+ cells is an early event in cell cycle entry that is regulated by hematopoietic growth factors and does not simply reflect cell cycle progression and cell division.

Key Words:

Survivin, Cord blood, CD34+ cells, Cell cycle     

Analysis and sorting of living cells according to deoxyribonucleic acid content.

The methods for measuring the deoxyribonucleic acid content of individual mammalian cells and sorting them on the basis of this parameter have until now required fixation or other treatment which renders the cells nonviable. Using a class of bis-benzimidazole dyes, Hoechst 33258 and 33342 and a multiparameter computer-controlled cell sorter, we have been able to stain and separate living cells in the G1, S, and G2+M phases of the cell cycle and to continue their growth in tissue culture with high retention of viability (greater than 90%) and no increase in heteroploidy. The quenching of the fluorescence of the bound dye by 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporated into cellular deoxyribonucleic acid is being used with the flow system to detect and isolate mutants in deoxyribonucleic acid metabolism spectroscopically.     

Videomicrofluorometry on living cells and discriminant factorial analysis to study cell cycle distributions

After a rapid overview of the approaches used to study cell cycle, a fluorescent digital imaging microscopy method is proposed. This method is improved by a factorial analysis relying on the evaluation of several parameters recorded on each living cell. Single lympho-blastoid living cells are labeled with three fluorescent markers: Hoechst 33342 for nuclear DNA, Rhodamine 123 for mitochondria and Nile Red for plasma membrane. For each cell, morphological and functional information parameters are obtained. A typological analysis is used to separate control cells into four groups: G0-G1, S, G2+M and polyploid cells Gn. These control cells define a learning population used to analyze untreated and adriamycine treated cells as supplementary individuals in a discriminant factorial analysis. Such an approach allows to accurately evidence the change of the values of some cellular parameters.     

Analysis of distribution of tumor- and preneoplasia-infiltrating lymphocytes using simultaneous Hoechst 33342 labeling and immunophenotyping.

Hoechst 33342 in vivo staining was combined with immunofluorescent staining of cell surface antigens to quantify the distribution, relative to blood supply, of lymphocytes in a preneoplastic mammary lesion, the murine C4 hyperplastic alveolar nodule (HAN), and the C4 adenocarcinoma which develops from C4 HAN. The vascular supply to lymphocytes expressing Thy 1.2, L3T4, Ly2, and ASGM1 cell surface antigens was evaluated in both tissues. The distribution of ASGM1+ cells, which include natural killer cells, differed between the two tissues, being significantly increased in the 20% brightest Hoechst-stained lymphocyte fraction in HAN but not in C4 tumor. Distribution of T lymphocytes did not differ between the two tissues. The combination of in vivo Hoechst 33342 with in vitro immunofluorescence provides a simple method to evaluate the distribution with regard to blood supply of lymphocyte subsets in solid tumors and preneoplastic lesions.     

Vital DNA staining and cell sorting by flow microfluorometry

A procedure has been investigated for sorting viable cells according to their DNA content. Cells are stained with the U.V. activated fluorochromes 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), Hoechst 33258 or Hoechst 33342, and sorted with a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter. Hoechst 33342 is a suitable vital stain for a variety of cell types. Hoechst 33258 and DAPI, however, are quantitative vital stains for CHO cells only. Cloning efficiency is unaffected by the sorting procedure, and these stains are not mutagenic at concentrations suitable for vital staining. Potential applications of this procedure to cell biology are discussed.     

Separation of live cells in different phases of the cell cycle for gene expression analysis

BACKGROUND: Homogeneity of cell populations is a basic requirement for gene expression analyses of the cell cycle, such as those based on microarrays. The most common approach to obtain specific populations is the use of synchronization methods that increase the number of cells representing a certain cell cycle stage. On the one hand, conventional synchronization usually causes undesirable effects. On the other hand, cell separation methods may imply loss of RNA quality, another limiting factor for expression profiling. We describe a new strategy to specifically separate live cells in different phases of the cell cycle (G(1) and G(2)/M) to obtain good quality RNA for gene expression analyses. METHODS: The experimental design included sorting G(1) and G(2)/M cells with the vital fluorochrome Hoechst 33342, followed by RNA isolation from the sorted cells. RESULTS: Sorted living G(1) and G(2)/M cells, analyzed by immunocytochemistry and laser scanning cytometry, showed strong enrichment. The quality and specificity of the isolated RNA were demonstrated by northern blot. CONCLUSIONS: This new approach has many potential applications, such as expression profiling of specific cell populations after eliminating the irrelevant data produced by cells in other stages of the cycle.     

He—Ne激光照射对成纤维细胞内[Ca^2＋]i浓度影响的流式细胞计测定

目的：Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ激光照射治疗的机理不明,激光照射引起细胞内Ｃａ＾２＋水平变化,为治疗机理提供理论依据。方法：Ｈｅ－Ｎｅ激光照射引起鼠成纤维细胞Ｌ９２９内［Ｃａ＾２＋］ｉ的变化,用ＨＯ３４２对细胞ＤＮＡ活性染色,Ｆｌｕｏ－３ＡＭ对细胞内Ｃａ＾２＋染色,利用ＦＣＭ同时定量分析细胞ＤＮＡ和细胞内Ｃａ＾２＋的变化。结果：激光照射１５ｍｉｎ（光剂量１１．８１Ｊ／ｃｍ＾２后,ＦＣＭ分析可见ＤＮＡ分布直方图右移     

Effects of Exogenous Zinc on Cell Cycle, Apoptosis and Viability of MDAMB231, HepG2 and 293 T Cells

As a non-toxic metal to humans, zinc is essential for cell proliferation, differentiation, regulation of DNA synthesis, genomic stability and mitosis. Zinc homeostasis in cells, which is crucial for normal cellular functioning, is maintained by various protein families including ZnT (zinc transporter/SLC30A) and ZIP (Zrt-, Irt-like proteins/SLC39A) that decrease and increase cytosolic zinc availability, respectively. In this study, we investigated the influences of a specific concentration range of ZnSO₄ on cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry, and cell viability by MTT method in MDAMB231, HepG2 and 293 T cell lines. Fluorescent sensors NBD-TPEA and the counterstain for nuclei Hoechst 33342 were used to stain the treated cells for observing the localisation and amount of Zn²⁺ via laser scanning confocal microscope. It was found that the influence manners of ZnSO₄ on cell cycle, apoptosis and cell viability in various cell lines were different and corresponding to the changes of Zn²⁺ content of the three cell lines, respectively. The significant increase on intracelluar zinc content of MDAMB231 cells resulted in cell death, G1 and G2/M cell cycle arrest and increased apoptotic fraction. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of ZnT and ZIP families in the three cell lines, when treated with high concentration of ZnSO₄, increased and decreased corresponding to their functions, respectively.     

Changes in mouse MHC expression during the cell cycle of Con A-treated spleen cells

This study was directed at correlating the expression of class I MHC determinants with different segments of the cell cycle by using dual laser flow microfluorometry to measure levels of both DNA and cell surface H-2Kd or H-2Dd determinants for single cells. Con A-treated mouse spleen cells were identified as being in the G2/M or G0/G1 phases of the cell cycle on the basis of propidium iodide or Hoechst 33342 dye bound to DNA. Monoclonal anti-H-2 antibodies, indirectly fluoresceinated with goat anti-mouse IgG, were used to detect MHC determinants. The average level of both Kd and Dd determinants expressed by G2/M cells was about 1.6-fold higher than that expressed by G0/G1 cells. These observations indicate that the average-size G0/G1 and G2/M cells have the same apparent surface density of Kd and Dd determinants, insofar as we estimate that these cells differ in surface area by a factor of about 1.5. We also analyzed the expression of Kd and Dd determinants by measuring how they changed as a function of the intensity of forward light scatter from cells. For both G2/M and G0/G1 cells, changes in light scatter intensity were associated with parallel changes in levels of Dd and Kd determinants, indicating a common mechanism(s) that controls their cell surface expression.     

A new method for rapid and sensitive detection of bromodeoxyuridine in DNA-replicating cells

A new flow cytometric technique, involving differential fluorescence analysis of two DNA-binding fluorochromes, was used to quantify cellular incorporation of the base analog, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), into DNA over short time periods. During analysis of stained cells, the blue fluorescence signal of Hoechst 33342, which is quenched by BrdU-substituted DNA, was subtracted, on a cell by cell basis, from the green-yellow fluorescence signal of mithramycin, which remained stoichiometric to cellular DNA content. Bivariate contour profiles obtained for CHO cells pulse-labeled for 30 min showed that fluorescence quenching of Hoechst 33342 in BrdU-labeled, S phase cells produced fluorescence difference signals that were significantly greater than the difference signals from G1 and G2 + M phase cells. Analysis of L1210 cells demonstrated that the amount of BrdU detected was proportional to the length of the labeling period. The novel technique is simple, rapid, and mild; it produces minimal cell loss and does not significantly affect cellular moieties such as DNA, chromatin, or RNA.     

Flow cytometric characterization of viable meiotic and postmeiotic cells by Hoechst 33342 in mouse spermatogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Spermatogenesis in adult is a complex stepwise process leading to terminally differentiated spermatozoa. The cellular heterogeneity of testis renders complex the studies on molecular aspects of this differentiation process. Analysis of the regulation of adult spermatogenesis would undoubtedly benefit from the development of techniques to characterize each germinal differentiation step. METHODS: Hoechst 33342 staining of mouse testicular cells allows characterization of an enriched population in germinal stem cell and spermatogonia, called side population. In this study, we examined the definition of the various germinal populations stained by Hoechst 33342, notably meiotic and postmeiotic cells. RESULTS: Preleptotene spermatocytes, spermatocyte I, spermatocyte II, and round and elongated spermatids were discriminated by Hoechst 33342 staining. In addition, we associated differentiation of spermatocyte I through leptotene to diplotene with changes in Hoechst 33342 red fluorescence pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Hoechst 33342 staining of viable germinal cells constitutes a valuable tool to study normal and impaired mouse adult spermatogenesis or to isolate viable cells from various differentiation stages for studies of molecular mechanisms regulating spermatogenesis.     

Measurement of efflux from G1-phase in a growth factor dependent cell line

In order to test a mathematical model of G1/S-phase transition, the proliferative response of the murine myeloid interleukin 3 (IL-3) dependent cell line NFS-78 to graded reduction of IL-3 levels was measured. Exponentially growing cells were exposed to bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR), which replaces thymidine (TdR) in the DNA double strands during DNA synthesis. After incubation periods ranging from 3 to 36 h the cells were fixed and stained with a fluorescence dye mixture of Hoechst 33258 and ethidium bromide (EB) and subsequently analyzed in a two-parametrical flow cytometer. The BUdR-quenched TdR-specific Hoechst 33258 fluorescence of each cell provides information on the cell cycle location at the start of incubation and on whether or not a cell has divided. The DNA-specific EB fluorescence provides information on the actual cell cycle location at the end of the incubation period. From the 2-dimensional fluorescence distributions the efflux from G1-phase was calculated. Upon IL-3 reduction the cells showed accumulation in the Gl-phase along with a reduction in the progression rate through the other phases of the cell cycle. By staining with the vital dye Hoechst 33342 as well as with propidium iodide (PI) it was further possible to show that cell death after IL-3 withdrawal occurred in all phases of the cell cycle.     

Retention of the mitochondrial probe rhodamine 123 in normal lymphocytes and leukemic cells in relation to the cell cycle

The cationic fluorochrome rhodamine 123 (R123) is specifically taken up by mitochondria of live cells where it is retained due to the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. After pulse exposure of human normal quiescent or proliferating lymphocytes, human lymphocytic leukemic MOLT cells, and mice leukemic L1210 cells to 10 micrograms/ml of R123, the dye release was studied using flow cytometry. Two distinct phases of R123 release, each following first-order kinetics, were apparent; the half-time of retention for the rapidly and slowly released fractions of R123 was 0.8-1.1 and 2.8-4.2 h, respectively. Simultaneous supravital cell staining with R123 and Hoechst 33342 made it possible to correlate retention of R123 with cell position in the cell cycle. No significant differences were observed in the rate of R123 release from cells in G1 vs S or vs G2 + M phases of the cycle. The data rule out a possibility that the release of R123 is due to periodic depolarization of the mitochondria in the cell as may be postulated by cell cycle models that assume a transient passage of cells through resting phase following division. The observed similar rates of R123 release regardless of cell type or cell cycle phase suggest that the factors affecting the exchange are similar in normal lymphocytes vs leukemic cells and unrelated to cell proliferation rate or phase of the cell cycle. Two distinct rates of R123 release indicate the presence of two kinds of binding sites differing in affinity to the dye.     

Flow cytometric characterization of the response of Fanconi's anemia cells to mitomycin C treatment

DNA flow histogram analysis, using 33342 Hoechst as a stain, has been used to detect the effect of the potentially bifunctional alkylating agent, mitomycin C (MMC) on dermal fibroblasts from patients with Fanconi's anemia (FA), a hereditary human disease characterized by pancytopenia, hypersensitivity to DNA-crosslinking agents, congenital abnormalities and a predisposition for neoplasia. At 24 or 48 hr after a 2-hr exposure to 0.05 or 0.10 micrograms/ml MMC, (3)HdT incorporation was reduced to a greater extent in FA cells than in normal cells. Cells sorted from the last half of S phase showed a slightly greater inhibition of (3)HdT incorporation than did those sorted from the first half of S. Fanconi's anemia cells exhibited a marked accumulation in the G(2) + M peak of flow histograms following exposure to MMC. Twenty-four hr after treatment with .0.5 micrograms/ml MMC, the G(2) + M fraction of FA cells (eight lines) increased to more than 0.5 from a control value of approximately 0.02. Both normals (six lines) and heterozygotes (eight lines) showed, on the average, much less of a G(2) + M increment than did FA cells, even after exposure to 0.1 micrograms/ml MMC. Examination of cells sorted from the G(2) + M peak revealed that MMC-treated FA cells were blocked prior to mitosis. To determine whether the response of FA cells was specific for bifunctional alkylating agent, cells were also treated with ethylmethanesulfonate, a monofunctional agent. Twenty-four hours after exposure to 0.25 or 0.5 mg/ml ethylmethanesulfonate, FA and normal cells showed similar, small increases in the G(2) + M peak. The results suggest the utility of flow cytometry in the diagnostic evaluation of fibroblasts from patients suspected of having Fanconi's anemia.     

A role for the myoglobin redox cycle in the induction of endothelial cell apoptosis

This study investigates the potential role of the ferric/ferryl redox cycle of myoglobin (Mb) in the development of endothelial cell injury. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were incubated with ferric Mb (0.5-100 micro M) in the presence or absence of low steady states of H(2)O(2) (3-4 micro M) generated by glucose oxidase (GOX). The reaction of ferric Mb with H(2)O(2) generated ferryl Mb as monitored spectrophotometrically. Ferryl Mb formation correlated with the induction of apoptosis as indicated by morphological criteria, caspase 3 activation, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, and nuclear condensation by Hoechst 33342 staining. The addition of ascorbate or catalase inhibited the formation of ferryl Mb and the onset of apoptosis, whereas apoptosis was enhanced in cells depleted of intracellular glutathione by pretreatment with buthionine sulfoximine. Mb and Mb/GOX suppressed cell cycle progression, but only Mb/GOX produced significant cell loss revealed by the accumulation of sub G1 events. These results suggest a role for the Mb redox cycle in the induction of endothelial cell apoptosis, which may be relevant in the pathophysiology of diseases characterized by the release of Mb from damaged muscle.