Flow cytometric DNA content in Kaposi's sarcoma by histologic stage. Comparison with angiosarcoma

Kaposi's sarcoma occurs as a multicentric proliferation of endothelial cells. A lesion may progress through several histologic stages, culminating in a lesion consisting of spindle cells with marked nuclear atypia that may be indistinguishable from angiosarcoma. To assess the relationship between the nuclear DNA content and the stage, 29 paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens from 25 cases of Kaposi's sarcoma were classified according to their histologic stage and flow cytometric DNA ploidy status. The findings were compared with those in 14 angiosarcomas (5 postmastectomy angiosarcomas, 6 other cutaneous angiosarcomas and 3 angiosarcomas of deep tissues). The Kaposi's sarcoma specimens studied included samples with irregular lymphatic-like channels (stage 1), transition to spindle cells (stage 1t2), nodular spindle-cell aggregates (stage 2), scattered atypical spindle cells (stage 2t3) and histologic features indistinguishable from those of angiosarcoma (stage 3). Of the 25 Kaposi's sarcoma specimens of stage 2 or less, 17 had a diploid DNA distribution while an additional 8 had broad diploid G0G1 peaks (peridiploid, with a coefficient of variation greater than 7.5%, present in similar proportions in stages 1, 1t2 and 2). One of three stage 2t3 lesions showed tetraploidy while the single stage 3 specimen (from the leg) was aneuploid, with a DNA index (DI = 1.16) similar to that of four of the five postmastectomy angiosarcomas (DI = 1.14 to 1.20). An additional three angiosarcomas also showed nondiploid distributions (DI = 1.16, 1.98 and 2.13, respectively); the remainder were diploid or peridiploid. These results support previous cytogenetic data suggesting a normal karyotype in Kaposi's sarcoma up to stage 2, with atypia beginning as cells acquire numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Flow cytometric analysis of paraffin-embedded material in human gastric cancer

Flow cytometric DNa analysis was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples obtained by gastroscopic biopsy from 9 patients with histologically normal gastric mucosa (36 specimens) and by radical gastrectomy from 42 cases of human gastric cancer (120 specimens). Ploidy patterns and the distribution of cells in the different cell cycle phases were estimated, and the results were correlated with the histologic and clinical features. All samples of normal mucosa showed a diploid modal DNA content whereas DNA aneuploidy was encountered in 71.4% of the gastric tumors. The correlation between aneuploidy and histologic malignancy grading was statistically significant: aneuploidy was found in 36.4% of highly differentiated (grade 1 and grade 2) tumors and in 75.0% of poorly differentiated (grade 3) tumors (P less than .05). The percentage of cells in S-phase in normal gastric mucosa (median: 5.0%) was lower than that in the tumors (median: 11.3%) (P less than .05). There was a trend for grade 3 tumors to have higher median values (median: 13.4%) than grade 1 and 2 tumors (median: 9.3%); however, this was not statistically significant. An aneuploid DNA pattern was associated with a poorer prognosis, both in early and in advanced stages of gastric tumors, while proliferative activity did not correlate with postoperative survival.     

Flow cytometric analysis of the kinetic effects of cisplatin on lung cancer cells

The effects of cisplatin on the cell cycle and DNA synthesis of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line PC-9 were examined by flow cytometry. The cellular DNA content and the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation rate were measured simultaneously using a monoclonal anti-BrdUrd antibody. Following exposure to cisplatin (1.0 micrograms/ml) for 1 and 24 hr, the bivariate DNA/BrdUrd distributions revealed a delayed S-phase transit and an accumulation of cells in the G2M phase. The BrdUrd-linked green fluorescence intensity continued to decrease with the lapse of time. However, early- and mid-S-phase cells soon recovered DNA synthesis activity, and the former showed higher activity than the control cells. These findings suggested the vigorous DNA synthesis of cells in early S phase. However, for quantitative analysis of chemotherapeutic effects, some problems remained to be resolved regarding the condition for DNA denaturation and its alteration by the agents.     

Flow cytometric bivariate analysis of DNA and cytokeratin in colorectal cancer.

Different opinions about flow cytometric estimates of DNA aneuploidy and/or S-phase fraction (SPF) as supplementary prognostic markers in colorectal cancer are to some degree associated with methodology. Using univariate DNA analysis, we have previously investigated the DNA ploidy in colorectal cancer, its heterogeneity within and between tumors and its relation to survival. To improve detection of DNA aneuploid subpopulations and particularly estimation of their SPF's we investigated a method for bivariate DNA/cytokeratin analysis on fine-needle aspirates of 728 frozen biopsies from 157 colorectal tumors. Unfixed aspirates were stained with propidium iodide and FITC-conjugated anti-cytokeratin antibody in a saponin-buffer. A significant association between SPF and debris was observed. There were no substantial difference in DNA ploidy patterns between univariate and bivariate measurements (concordance was 92-95%). No new DNA aneuploid subpopulations were detected in cytokeratin-gated compared to ungated or univariate histograms. Debris-adjusted SPF's of cytokeratin-gated histograms were significantly higher than of ungated histograms, also for subpopulations with DI>1.4 (p<0.0001). There was no significant association between SPF and survival.     

Flow cytometric analysis of porcine preadipocytes.

In this report, conditions have been established for utilizing monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence activated flow cytometry in studying antigen expression by primary porcine stromal-vascular cells cultured under various conditions. Single cells were isolated from cultures maintained in DME/F12 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 2% pig serum, and containing 2% pig serum and 10 nM dexamethasone supplemented with growth hormone (GH), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Flow cytometric analyses revealed that the proportion of cells expressing detectable levels of the AD-1 cells surface antigen was greater in cultures supplemented with 2% pig serum and 10 nM dexamethasone than in other media. In cultures, GH, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta each inhibited lipid deposition, whereas TNF-alpha and TGF-beta, but not GH, inhibited AD-1 antigen expression. Inhibition of lipid deposition as well as antigen expression by TNF-alpha and TGF-beta was reversible, but inhibition of cluster formation by GH was not reversed upon removal from cultures. In summary, differential effects of factors on surface antigen expression by preadipocytes are detectable by flow cytometry. Flow cytometric analysis using monoclonal antibodies produced against key developmentally regulated cell surface antigens is potentially a powerful analytical approach to the study of adipocyte development.     

Flow cytometric DNA analysis in the diagnosis of lung tumors. A comparison with conventional methods

The efficiency of flow cytometric (FCM) DNA analysis in the diagnosis of lung carcinoma was compared with that of conventional cytologic techniques on bronchial brushing and fine needle aspiration samples from 461 patients. The main advantage of FCM was the rapid delivery of results. Unfortunately, this was offset by a poor sensitivity in the detection of bronchial tumors. Nevertheless, DNA analysis may still prove useful in determining the prognosis and in evaluating the effects of chemotherapy on known tumor stem lines.     

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA stemline heterogeneity in primary and metastatic breast cancer.

Flow cytometric DNA-ploidy analysis was used to investigate intratumor DNA stemline heterogeneity in primary breast carcinomas and lymph node metastases (LNM). The study was done in tumor specimens from 44 patients 35 of whom had LNM. In all, measurements were done in 214 different samples of primary tumors and 211 lymph nodes. Sixty-one percent (27/44) of the primary tumors were found to have multiple DNA aneuploid stemlines when the data of the separate samples per tumor (mean 4.9) were compared. Only five of 44 (11%) primary tumors were DNA diploid; two of these had DNA aneuploid metastases. Statistical analysis of these results indicated that, on average, four samples are needed for reliable determination of the DNA ploidy status of primary tumors by flow cytometry. In the majority of the cases (26/35), distinct tumor DNA stemlines found in LNM were also present in the primary tumor, which suggests that the generation of DNA ploidy diversity may have taken place prior to metastasis. Multiploidy was not related to tumor size but, particularly for LNM, was significantly correlated with age (r = 0.40, P = 0.02). The results of this study support the view that breast cancer is an extremely heterogeneous disease and that underestimation of this factor might account for the disagreement in literature about the prognostic value of DNA ploidy determinations.     

Flow cytometric analysis of breast cancer resistance protein expression and function

BACKGROUND: The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) half-transporter that mediates energy-dependent drug efflux. Assessing the clinical relevance of the BCRP will require sensitive and specific methods for detecting its expression and function that allow high-volume specimen throughput and employ widely available instrumentation. METHODS: The BXP-34 and BXP-21 monoclonal antibodies were evaluated for flow cytometric detection of BCRP expression. The modulation of efflux of rhodamine-123, 3,3'-diethyloxacarbocyanine iodide, doxorubicin, and mitoxantrone by fumitremorgin C was studied as an assay for BCRP function in BCRP-overexpressing cell lines and controls. RESULTS: BXP-34 and BXP-21 allowed detection of BCRP expression by flow cytometry in all BCRP-expressing cell lines. Mitoxantrone was the only substrate transported by BCRP in all lines, and with mitoxantrone at a 3-microM concentration, light emission (>670 nm) caused by excitation at 488 nm was sufficiently intense to allow detection of differences in retention associated with low levels of BCRP expression. CONCLUSIONS: Immunophenotyping with BXP-21 or BXP-34 and fumitremorgin C modulation of mitoxantrone retention allow detection of BCRP expression and function by flow cytometry with standard instrumentation. These assays will facilitate determination of the role of BCRP in clinical drug resistance.     

Flow cytometric sorting and analysis of human epidermal stem cell candidates

ESC (epidermal stem cells) play a central role in the regeneration of human epidermis. These cells are also responsible for wound healing and neoplasm formation. Efficient isolation of ESC allows their use in medicine and pharmacy as well as in basic science. Cultured keratinocytes and ESC may be used as biological dressing in burn injuries, chronic wounds and hereditary disorders. Therefore, the isolation and characterization of ESC have been goals in biomedical science. Here, we present a flow cytometric method for the isolation and analysis of human ESC candidates. The strategy presented for the isolation of ESC combines previously proposed enzymatic digestion and FACS‐sorting of the obtained cell suspension that utilizes morphological features, integrin‐β1 expression and Rh123 (Rhodamine 123) accumulation of the cells. We also performed a flow cytometric analysis of sorted cells using a cell tracer.     

Flow cytometric analysis of human lysozyme production in recombinantSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Flow cytometric techniques were used to investigate cell size, protein content and cell cycle behavior of recombinantSaccharomyces cerevisiae strains producing human lysozyme (HLZ). Two different signal sequences, the native yeastMFα1 signal sequence and the rat α-amylase signal sequence, were used for secretion of HLZ. The strain containing the rat α-amylase signal sequence showed a higher level of internal lysozyme and lower specific growth rates. Flow cytometric analysis of the total protein content and cell size showed the strain harboring the native yeast signal sequence had a higher total protein content than the strain containing the rat α-amylase signal sequence. Cell cycle analysis indicated that the two lysozyme producing recombinant strains had an increased number of cells in the G₂+M phase of the yeast cell cycle compared with the host strain SEY2102.     

Flow cytometric analysis of glyoxalase-1 expression in human leukocytes

Altered glyoxalase‐1 (GLO‐1) activity and expression is associated with the development of late diabetic complications, malignancy and oxidative stress‐ and aging‐related diseases. In the present study, we developed a flow cytometry method for GLO‐1 detection in human leukocytes isolated from peripheral blood samples to investigate GLO‐1 expression in leukocyte subsets from type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n = 11) and healthy subjects (n = 8). The flow cytometry analysis of GLO‐1 in leukocytes showed that expression index of GLO‐1‐positive cells was slightly increased in mononuclear leukocytes from diabetic patients. This result correlated with the increase in GLO‐1 activity in the whole blood samples of type 2 diabetes patients. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that flow cytometry is suitable for the detection of the GLO‐1 enzyme in human leukocytes and that this method could be used to investigate the fast adaptation of the glyoxalase system related to the pathogenesis of late complications of diabetes mellitus and other glycation stress‐related disorders. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow cytometric analysis of microorganisms

The application of flow cytometry to microorganisms is as old as the technique itself, but it has historically been underexploited for microbial applications. This is now being reversed and microbiologists are ideally placed to benefit from recent technological advances. While earlier papers demonstrated the use of flow cytometry for studies of viability and taxonomy, recent developments in bioinformatics and reporter gene technologies are leading to novel applications in microbiology. Variants of green fluorescent protein have been used for the study of conditional microbial gene regulation in medically important host-pathogen interactions and fluorescence-activated cell sorting is being applied to the isolation of novel mutants in directed evolution studies. This paper reviews the reasons for the delay in the application of flow cytometry to microbial problems, the range of applications, and their limitations and considers the progress made in developing new strategies for use in microbiological investigations.     

Flow cytometric analysis of bromodeoxyuridine-substituted cells stained with 33258 Hoechst.

This paper describes a flow-cytometric application of the quenching of fluorescence from 33258 Hoechst stained Chinese hamster ovary-line cells due to the incorporation of 5-bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) into the cellular deoxyribonucleic acid. Cells were grown for 24 hr in medium containing BrdU in concentrations ranging from 1 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-4) M. For each concentration we measured the average fluorescence as determined by flow cytometry, the extent of BrdU substitution and the effect of the BrdU on cell growth. We determined that a BrdU concentration of 1 x 10(-5) M resulted in sufficient substitution to quench the fluorescence from 33258 Hoechst by a factor of 4, allowing discrimination between cycling and noncycling cells. The extent of BrdU substitution after growth for 24 hr in this concentration of BrdU was 64%. These data indicate the feasibility of detecting deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in whole cells using the 33258 Hoechst-BrdU methodology.     

新鲜肺癌组织的DNA 含量分析

目的：研究新鲜肺癌组织的DNA含量。方法：采用流式细胞术对30例新鲜肺癌组织和5例正常对照组组织制成的单细胞悬液进行了DNA含量分析。结果：肺癌组G0／G1、S、G2／M各时相比率和细胞增殖指数以及DNA指数与对照组存在显著性差异（P〈0．01）。结论：肺病变组织细胞DNA的流式细胞术分析是判定肺部肿瘤恶性化的敏感指标。     

Flow cytometric analysis of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: correlation with clinical stage

Several authors have studied the T-lymphocyte subpopulations in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), but previous studies were performed after preceding enrichment procedures, which are known to cause selective losses of certain subpopulations. To correct for this deficiency we used flow cytometric analysis, which enabled us to measure subpopulations directly on total blood samples. We studied T-lymphocyte subsets with OKT monoclonal antibodies in 45 patients with B-CLL. Serum levels of IgG, IgA and IgM were assayed simultaneously and findings were correlated with clinical stage (Rai classification). The absolute number of CD4-positive cells decreased in more advanced Rai stages, while the absolute number of CD8-positive cells increased, resulting in a progressive reduction in CD4/8 ratio. Results from patients in stages with equal prognosis (Rai I and II, Rai III and IV) were similar and when these results were grouped the observed differences were highly significant and clearly correlated with all prognostic groups.     

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content for ploidy determination in human solid tumors.

Flow cytometric studies of cellular DNA content were conducted in 26 patients with a variety of neoplasms. Cell dispersal was achieved with pepsin treatment, and a combination of ethidium bromide and mithramycin was used as DNA specific staining procedure. All measurements were conducted with a new sheath flow chamber in a PHYWE ICP 11 pulse cytophotometer. All but one patient with multiple myeloma had unimodal tumor cell DNA distributions. With human granulocytes as reference standard, 24 of 26 tumors were aneuploid; and of these, 23 showed varying degrees of hyperdiploidy. Except for one patient, ploidy abnormalities were stable on repeat examination.     

Flow cytometric analysis of adriamycin-perturbed mouse mammary tumors.

The effects of a single intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin (10 mg/kg) on a fast-growing C3H mouse mammary tumor (S102F) have been analyzed volumetrically, biochemically, autoradiographically and flow cytometrically. Mathematical simulation of the data was also used to aid in the interpretation of the recovery kinetics. This dose of adriamycin did not induce regression in tumor volume but did inhibit the growth rate for 4-5 days. 3H-TdR incorporation was gradually inhibited to reach a low of 20% of control at 24 and 36 hr and then recovered back to control by 96 hr after adriamycin treatment. The flow cytometric analysis also showed a marked reduction in the relative fraction of cells in the S-phase with a minimum of 23% of control at 72 hr; however, in contrast to the 3H-TdR incorporation data, the fraction of cells in the S-phase was only at 39% of control at 96 hr after the adriamycin injection. Since the 3H-TdR incorporation data disagreed with the flow cytometry data, autoradiographic analysis was also done at selected times after the adriamycin injections, and qualitatively, this analysis confirms the flow cytometry data in that the labeling index was 29% of control at 96 hr after adriamycin. The mitotic index also dropped from 8 to 1%, respectively, for controls and at 96 hr posttreatment. The degenerate index was about 1% in control tumors and no increase was observed in treated tumors. Adriamycin-induced cell-cycle delay occurs predominately in G1 and G2 but there is also an apparent minor delay in the transit across the S-phase and some apparent cytotoxicity in G2 and/or M. The long delay in volumetric growth appears to be due to the extended cell-cycle delay rather than extensive cell killing.