Flow cytometric estimation of cell cycle parameters using a monoclonal antibody to bromodeoxyuridine

A Guide to Flow Cytometry: Components, Basic Principles, Experimental Design, and Cancer Research Applications

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a state-of-the-art technique for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of cells and other particles' physical and biological properties. These cells are suspended within a high-velocity fluid stream and pass through a laser beam in single file. The main principle of the FCM instrument is the light scattering and fluorescence emission upon the interaction of the fluorescent particle with the laser beam. It also allows for the physical sorting of particles depending on different parameters. A flow cytometer comprises different components, including fluidic, optics, and electronics systems. This article briefly explains the mechanism of all components of a flow cytometer to clarify the FCM technique's general principles, provides some useful guidelines for the proper design of FCM panels, and highlights some general applications and important applications in cancer research. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Multiplexed and reproducible high content screening of live and fixed cells using Dye Drop

High-throughput measurement of cells perturbed using libraries of small molecules, gene knockouts, or different microenvironmental factors is a key step in functional genomics and pre-clinical drug discovery. However, it remains difficult to perform accurate single-cell assays in 384-well plates, limiting many studies to well-average measurements (e.g., CellTiter-Glo®). Here we describe a public domain Dye Drop method that uses sequential density displacement and microscopy to perform multi-step assays on living cells. We use Dye Drop cell viability and DNA replication assays followed by immunofluorescence imaging to collect single-cell dose-response data for 67 investigational and clinical-grade small molecules in 58 breast cancer cell lines. By separating the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of drugs computationally, we uncover unexpected relationships between the two. Dye Drop is rapid, reproducible, customizable, and compatible with manual or automated laboratory equipment. Dye Drop improves the tradeoff between data content and cost, enabling the collection of information-rich perturbagen-response datasets.

A flow cytometric journey into cell cycle analysis

Cell cycle involves a series of changes that lead to cell growth and division. Cell cycle analysis is crucial to understand cellular responses to changing environmental conditions. Since its inception, flow cytometry has been particularly useful for cell cycle analysis at single cell level due to its speed and precision. Previously, flow cytometric cell cycle analysis relied solely on the measurement of cellular DNA content. Later, methods were developed for multiparametric analysis. This review explains the journey of flow cytometry to understand different molecular and cellular events underlying cell cycle using various protocols. Recent advances in the field that overcome the shortcomings of traditional flow cytometry and expand its scope for cell cycle studies are also discussed.

Flow cytometry: principles, applications and recent advances

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a sophisticated technique that works on the principle of light scattering and fluorescence emission by the specific fluorescent probe-labeled cells as they pass through a laser beam. It offers several unique advantages as it allows fast, relatively quantitative, multiparametric analysis of cell populations at the single cell level. In addition, it also enables physical sorting of the cells to separate the subpopulations based on different parameters. In this constantly evolving field, innovative technologies such as imaging FCM, mass cytometry and Raman FCM are being developed in order to address limitations of traditional FCM. This review explains the general principles, main applications and recent advances in the field of FCM.

SirT2 is a histone deacetylase with preference for histone H4 Lys 16 during mitosis

The mammalian cytoplasmic protein SirT2 is a member of the Sir2 family of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases involved in caloric restriction-dependent life span extension. We found that SirT2 and its yeast counterpart Hst2 have a strong preference for histone H4K16Ac in their deacetylation activity in vitro and in vivo. We have pinpointed the decrease in global levels of H4K16Ac during the mammalian cell cycle to the G2/M transition that coincides with SirT2 localization on chromatin. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) deficient for SirT2 show higher levels of H4K16Ac in mitosis, in contrast to the normal levels exhibited by SirT1-deficient MEFs. The enzymatic conversion of H4K16Ac to its deacetylated form may be pivotal to the formation of condensed chromatin. Thus, SirT2 is a major contributor to this enzymatic conversion at the time in the cell's life cycle when condensed chromatin must be generated anew.

Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of new euploid–diploid lymphoblastoid B cell lines EBV+, normal human bone marrow derived, spontaneously overgrown in vitro

The present study describes the phenotypic and genotypic features of seven individual growth transformed, euploid-diploid EBV+ human B cell lines arisen spontaneously in vitro. The lines, obtained under general and standard culture conditions (un-manipulated), from seven individual bone marrow samples of 18 healthy young adults, Caucasian, of both sexes, display many traits of normal B cells and represent a mixture of EBV infected latently (latency type III) and producer cells (5-16% VCA+ by immunofluorescence) releasing seven individual different viral strains [Fruscalzo et al., 2001. DNA sequence heterogeneity within the Epstein-Barr virus family of repeats in the latent origin of replication. Gene 265, 165-173] similar to the B95-8 genotype as shown by results of Southern blot of BamHI-digested DNA fragment. These tests were planned to characterize more fully this panel of new bone marrow cell lines sharing normal B cell traits.

An analysis of changes in the expression of cyclins A and B1 by the cell array system during the cell cycle: comparison between cell synchronization methods

BACKGROUND

A novel high-throughput analysis, cell array system, was developed for an extensive study of the expression of genes and/or the degradation of gene products at the cellular level. To exemplify the usefulness of this system, we showed the changes in the expression level of cyclin A and B1 during the cell cycle in a single experiment.

METHODS

We used the cell array system to chase the changes in cyclin A and B1 expression during the cell cycle in HeLa cells. Cells were synchronized by mitotic selection and thymidine-hydroxyurea methods. Cells were harvested at intervals of 1 h from 0 through 23 h. These 48 cell samples were spotted on a circle of the cell array glass slide. Cyclin A and B1 were immunologically stained with Alexa Fluor 488, and nuclear DNA was stained with propidium iodide. The amount of cyclins and nuclear DNA were simultaneously measured by a laser scanning cytometer.

RESULTS

Both cyclins were expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner as previously reported. The precise time-course of the expression level of cyclins were obtained at a single experiment with this cell array system.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that the cell array system is valuable to analyze temporal course of protein expression in relation to the cell cycle position and, that it facilitates antigen expression studies at the cellular level in multiple samples.

Bromodeoxyuridine: a diagnostic tool in biology and medicine, Part III. Proliferation in normal, injured and diseased tissue, growth factors, differentiation, DNA replication sites and in situ hybridization

This paper is a continuation of parts I (history, methods and cell kinetics) and II (clinical applications and carcinogenesis) published previously (Dolbeare, 1995 Histochem. J. 27, 339, 923). Incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) into DNA is used to measure proliferation in normal, diseased and injured tissue and to follow the effect of growth factors. Immunochemical detection of BrdUrd can be used to determine proliferative characteristics of differentiating tissues and to obtain birth dates for actual differentiation events. Studies are also described in which BrdUrd is used to follow the order of DNA replication in specific chromosomes, DNA replication sites in the nucleus and to monitor DNA repair. BrdUrd incorporation has been used as a tool for in situ hybridization experiments.

HSP70 production and inhibition of cell proliferation in Molt-4 T-cells after cell-to-cell transmission of HTLV-I: effect of PGA1

Infection with HTLV-I is associated with leukemic transformation of mature CD4+ T lymphocytes. PGA1, a powerful inhibitor of tumour cell proliferation, can prevent the clonal expansion of HTLV-I-infected cells following acute infection of cord blood-derived mononuclear cells. Since the antiproliferative effect of PGA1 on HTLV-I transformed, chronically infected MT-2 cell line was associated with induction of HSP70, we have investigated the effect of PGA1 on cell cycle progression and HSP70 production in a leukemic T-cell line (Molt-4) shortly after exposure to HTLV-I in a cell-to-cell transmission model. Rate of cell proliferation and HSP70 expression were studied within one duplication cycle of Molt-4 cells after exposure to HTLV-I. Growth of both control and virus-exposed cultures was inhibited by treatment with PGA1 (4 micrograms/ml) and cell cycling was arrested preferentially at the G1/S interphase. Synthesis of HSP70 was induced within 3 h by PGA1 in control and virus-exposed Molt-4 cells and became undetectable from overnight onward, though the protein accumulated in the cells. The arrest of growth was observed from overnight up to 48 h so that treated cells almost missed one cycle. Interestingly, HSP70 transcript and protein persisted at remarkably high levels in Molt-4 cells exposed to HTLV-I in the absence of PGA1, showing that HSP70 expression can be directly activated during primary infection with this human retrovirus. Moreover, in these cocultures, treatment with PGA1 or heat shock was not able to increase further the elevated level of HSP70 found in untreated cocultures, suggesting that during the early period of the virus-transmission phase, HTLV-I could interfere with HSP70 induction by other inducers.

Effect of hyperthermia on cyclin B expression in a human glioblastoma cell line

Effects of hyperthermia on the cell kinetics of glioblastoma cells were investigated using flow cytometry. Pulse-labeling with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) and chasing of the labeled cells revealed temporary accumulation of the labeled cells in G2M phase and a reduction of DNA synthesis. The level of cyclin B rises rapidly in G2 phase and falls at the end of mitosis in normal cycling cells. Cyclin B binds to p34cdc2, resulting in histone kinase activity which is necessary for the initiation of mitosis. The amount of p34cdc2 remains constant throughout the cell cycle. The level of cyclin B was measured using an anti-cyclin B antibody and flow cytometry in order to investigate the cause of the G2 accumulation induced by hyperthermia. A low level of cyclin B, in comparison with that of normal cycling cells, persisted for more than 3 h after hyperthermia. These results indicate that the temporary accumulation of cells in G2M phase after hyperthermia may be caused, at least in part, by an insufficient level of cyclin B.

Abnormal DNA synthesis in polyamine deficient cells revealed by bromodeoxyuridine-flow cytometry technique

Chinese hamster ovary cells were seeded in the absence or presence of the polyamine synthesis inhibitor 2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). At 1-4 days after seeding, the cells were labelled for 15-120 min with the thymidine analogue bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and they were then fixed directly after the labelling period. In addition, cells were labelled for 30 min and they were then allowed to progress in BrdUrd-free medium during a defined post-labelling time before fixation. An indirect immunofluorescence technique, using the monoclonal BrdUrd antibody and the intercalating stoichiometric DNA stain, propidium iodide, was applied to enable quantification of cellular BrdUrd and DNA contents, respectively, by flow cytometry (FCM). By comparing the mean DNA content of BrdUrd-labelled cells to the mean DNA contents of G1 and G2 cells, a relative measure of the position of the BrdUrd-labelled cells was obtained (relative movement). Relative movement data, obtained from control and DFMO-treated cells fixed directly after BrdUrd labelling, indicated that DFMO-treated cells entered S phase at a normal rate, while their progression through S phase was impaired. DNA histograms of BrdUrd-labelled control cells fixed directly after labelling showed that most cells were found in early and late S phase, while DNA histograms of BrdUrd-labelled DFMO-treated cells showed that most cells were in early S phase, indicating a delayed progression through S phase. Analysis of relative movement of cells that were allowed to progress in BrdUrd-free medium after labelling showed that DFMO treatment resulted in a significant lengthening of the DNA synthesis time. Labelling index was significantly higher in DFMO-treated, growth-inhibited cells than in early plateau phase control cells indicating an S phase accumulation in the former cells.

Simultaneous cytokinetic measurement of aneuploid tumors and associated diploid cells following continuous labelling with chlorodeoxyuridine

Cells from a murine tumor, MCa-K, were continuously labelled with the thymidine analogue chlorodeoxyuridine (CldUrd) and analyzed by bivariate flow cytometry in order to measure the growth fraction (GF) and potential doubling time (Tpot) of both the DNA-aneuploid tumor cells and the associated DNA-diploid cells. MCa-K has a DNA index of 1.7, rendering two, partially overlapping, populations observable with labelled and unlabelled cells in each population. The data from these tumors may be divided into three regions of differing DNA content, with one region containing a pure DNA-diploid population, a second region with both cell types, and a third region including only DNA-aneuploid cells. Equations are presented to characterize the fractions of labelled cells in each region as a function of labelling time and cell type, thereby permitting estimation of the proliferative properties of the populations. These equations include the possibility that DNA-aneuploid cells cease cycling both in G1 and in S phase to account for the observed numbers of unlabelled cells with S phase contents. The estimated value of Tpot of the DNA-diploid cells is 126.0 h with a GF of 42%, while that of the DNA-aneuploid cells is 36.9 h with a GF of 69%. It is also estimated that between 2% and 6% of all DNA-aneuploid cells starting DNA synthesis cease cycling, leading to 25% of the cells having an S-phase DNA content being noncycling.

Radiosensitivity in ataxia-telangiectasia: anomalies in radiation-induced cell cycle delay

A number of anomalies have been described in the progression of ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) cells through the cell cycle post-irradiation. Some uncertainty still exists as to whether AT cells show increased or reduced division delay after exposure to ionizing radiation. We have attempted to resolve the apparent inconsistencies that exist by investigating the effects of radiation on AT cells at various stages of the cell cycle. Specific labelling of S phase cells with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) followed by irradiation caused a prolonged accumulation of these cells in G2/M phase with only 2-7% of AT cells progressing through to G1 24h post-irradiation. In contrast, 23-28% of control cells irradiated in S phase reached G1 by 24 h after irradiation. As observed previously with AT fibroblasts, AT lymphoblastoid cells irradiated in G1 phase did not experience a delay in entering S phase. After progressing through S phase these cells also were delayed in G2/M, but not to the same extent as irradiated S phase cells. On the other hand, when AT cells were irradiated in G2 phase they showed less delay initially in entry to mitosis and the subsequent G1 phase than did irradiated control cells. The overall results demonstrate that AT cells fail to show an initial delay in transitions between the G1/S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle and in progression through these phases post-irradiation, but in the long-term, after passage through S phase, they experience a prolonged delay in G2/M. Since several AT complementation groups are represented in this study, the cell cycle anomalies appear to be universal in AT. These results implicate deficiencies in control of cell cycle progression in the increased radiosensitivity and cancer predisposition in AT.

Flow cytometric study of the type II pneumocyte cell cycle in vivo and in vitro

The type II pneumocyte cell cycle was studied in vivo and in vitro through bivariate flow cytometric analysis of DNA content vs. incorporated 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd). The cell cycle phase durations Ts (7.8 h) and TG2/M (1.1 h), measured in vivo, agreed well with earlier estimates obtained by thymidine labeling. Left unilateral pneumonectomy increased the BrdUrd labeling index of type II cells in the remaining lung from an initial value of 1.9 +/- 0.3% to 4.8 +/- 1.0%, but had no effect on Ts or TG2/M in vivo. In both normal and pneumonectomized animals, BrdUrd-positive cells in vivo rapidly completed mitosis but did not enter a second S-phase. These results demonstrate that proliferating type II cells do not form a continuously cycling population in the normal or regenerating adult lung. When cell cycle parameters were measured in vitro immediately after type II cell isolation, Ts increased 2-fold and TG2/M rose up to 10-fold above the value obtained in vivo. After 2 d of primary culture under customary plating conditions, Ts had returned to the same value as that in vivo, but TG2/M remained elevated. Little variability was observed in the duration of S-phase within each treatment group. In contrast, type II cells exhibited considerable heterogeneity in the rate of G2/M-phase traverse, especially in vitro. These data suggest that the inability of adult rat type II pneumocytes to proliferate in primary culture is related to delayed G2/M-phase transit and imply the existence of pneumocyte subpopulations which differ in susceptibility to growth arrest.

Energetics of nutrition and polyamine-related tumor growth alterations in experimental cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether food intake modulates experimental tumour growth by acute alterations in the energy state and blood flow of the tumour, and if so whether such changes are related to alterations in the enzyme ornithinedecarboxylase (ODC) and DNA synthesis. Inbred mice (C57BL/J) bearing a syngeneic undifferentiated and rapidly growing tumour were used. The tumour levels of high energy phosphates were measured in vivo by 31-P-NMR spectroscopy and biochemically following tissue extraction. DNA synthesis was estimated by measuring the incorporation of bromodeoxy-uridine into tumour DNA. Difluoro-methylornithine (DFMO) was used to inhibit ODC-activity. Tumour blood flow was estimated by a 132Xe local clearance technique. Tumour progression was associated with a significant decrease in tumour tissue high energy phosphates. Acute starvation decreased DNA-synthesis and tumour energy charge as well as its PCr/Pi which were rapidly normalised during subsequent refeeding. These changes were related to similar alterations in tumour blood flow. The inorganic phosphate (Pi) resonance and the resonances in the phosphomonoester (PME) region were considerably increased in tumour tissue. Inhibition of ODC-activity by DFMO decreased DNA-synthesis, which was associated with a secondary increase in tumour high energy phosphates probably due to a lowered energy demand for tumour cell division. The results demonstrate that host undernutrition was translated into retarded tumour growth associated with a decrease in the energy state and blood flow of the tumour. The results have bearing for the evaluation and planning of all treatment protocols with potential influence on food intake in experimental tumour-bearing animals.

Prognostic significance of the proliferative potential of intracranial gliomas measured by bromodeoxyuridine labeling

The growth potential of 174 intracranial gliomas was estimated by calculating the bromodeoxyuridine labeling index (BUdR LI). Each patient received a 30-min infusion of BUdR, 200 mg/m2, before tumor removal. Excised tumor specimens were stained immunohistochemically to determine the BUdR LI, or percentage of S-phase cells. A Cox proportional-hazards stepwise model was used to determine the correlation between the BUdR LI and survival. Among patients with glioblastomas, the BUdR LI did not improve the prediction once age was entered in the model. Among patients with malignant or low-grade astrocytomas, the BUdR LI was the best single predictor of survival. The relative predictive abilities of BUdR LI and histopathology were determined by analyzing malignant astrocytoma and glioblastomas together. Distinguishing between malignant astrocytomas and glioblastomas did not significantly improve the prediction of survival once the BUdR LI and age were entered into the model. Equations derived from the model indicate that the probability of survival is a function of age and BUdR LI in patients with glioblastoma or malignant astrocytoma, but is a function of BUdR LI alone in patients with low-grade astrocytoma. The equations also show a substantial difference in the impact of increased BUdR LI on survival among patients with glioblastoma or malignant astrocytoma and those with low-grade astrocytoma. Without highly effective treatments for specific tumor phenotypes, the survival of a patient with an intracranial glioma appears to depend strongly on the proliferative potential of the tumor. Thus, accurate estimates of the proliferative potential are important in predicting the survival of individual patients with gliomas as well as in evaluating the effectiveness of various types of treatment.

A flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine/DNA analysis for cytokinetics of the pancreatic cancer cell line Capan-2 after irradiation

The cytokinetics of the human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line Capan-2 were analyzed by a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)/DNA analysis with flow cytometry (FCM). The reproducibility of data was shown to be superior to that achieved using a DNA analysis program with FCM. The perturbation of cytokinetics following irradiation was examined. Bivariate distribution was able to distinguish each cell phase cohort, even following as strong an irradiation as 10 Gy, a condition for which DNA analysis proved unusable. BrdUrd/DNA analysis showed the G2M phase population after irradiation with 2 Gy to be significantly greater (P < 0.005) than that of the untreated cells. This difference was not detectable by the DNA analysis program due to the large standard deviation (SD) of the data. BrdUrd/DNA analysis has a sufficient quantitative accuracy that strongly perturbed cytokinetics in patients treated with various therapeutic agents, for example, with combined therapies, can thus be analyzed by this approach.

Blood supply and drug delivery to primary and secondary human liver cancers studied with in vivo bromodeoxyuridine labeling

BACKGROUND

Because bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is incorporated into DNA synthesizing (S-phase) cells, the blood supply of liver tumors can be traced by injecting BrdU into either the hepatic artery or portal vein. It also is possible to study the delivery of anti-cancer drugs acting during S-phase when they are injected by these routes. The blood supply of and drug delivery to liver tumors were examined using BrdU in patients with 19 metastatic liver cancers and 8 hepatocellular carcinomas.

METHODS

At the time of hepatic resection, 200 mg of BrdU was injected by the various routes or 200 mg of BrdU suspended in 2 ml of a lipid contrast medium was injected into the hepatic artery by a reported method 2 weeks before hepatectomy. The liver tumors resected were stained immunohistochemically with an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method using anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody.

RESULTS

BrdU injected into the hepatic artery or portal vein was incorporated into the metastatic liver tumor. After intraarterial infusion BrdU suspension, the delivery of BrdU was enhanced. The nuclei of hepatocellular carcinomas that received BrdU from the hepatic artery or portal vein incorporated BrdU.

CONCLUSIONS

Metastatic liver cancers had both arterial and portal blood supplies. Hepatocellular carcinomas also had, not only an arterial, but also a portal blood supply. In both primary and secondary hepatic cancers, the delivery of anti-cancer agents acting during S-phase using the lipid contrast medium administration method was excellent.

Antiviral activity of individual versus combined treatments with interferon alpha, beta and gamma on early infection with HTLV-I in vitro

We have shown previously that infection of mononuclear cells derived from neonatal cord (CBMC) or adult peripheral (PBMC) blood with HTLV-1 can be controlled in vitro by treatment with interferon (IFN) alpha, beta or gamma. The activity of IFNs was mainly related to the induction of an active antiviral competence in host's immune effector cells. The antiviral activity of IFN-boosted CBMC could be ascribed both to a positive regulation of cell-mediated immunity and to inhibition of viral infection. Data described herein provide further information on the mechanisms of the antiviral activity of IFNs and compare the activity of each type of IFN with the association of alpha + beta, alpha + gamma and beta + gamma IFNs, at a concentration of 100 or 1000 IU/ml. When added at the onset of the co-culture of CBMC with lethally irradiated, virus-donor MT-2 cells, IFNs could protect host CBMC by inhibiting HTLV-1 infection in terms of reduced proviral integration and a lower percentage of virus-positive cells, until 4 weeks of culture. Infection of CBMC was inhibited at a comparable extent by either individual or combined IFN treatments. However, a clearcut inhibition of HTLV-I transcription was found only when alpha 100 + beta 1000 IU/ml and especially alpha 1000 + gamma 100 IU/ml combined treatments were tested. When the chronically infected, virus-producing MT-2 cells were treated with IFNs, a remarkable inhibition of HTLV-I transcription was found only after multiple treatments. However, MT-2 cells became resistant to the antiviral activity of IFN gamma, but not to that of IFN alpha or beta. These data provide further information on the control of HTLV-I replication mediated by IFNs at different steps of the viral life cycle, being therefore relevant to the clinical use of combined IFNs in the treatment of acute infection. Moreover, IFNs could be used to prevent the establishment of a persistent infection, which is a prerequisite for developing adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and/or virus-associated myelopathy.

Comparative anti-viral and anti-proliferative activity of PGA1 and PGJ2 against HTLV-I-infected MT-2 cells

Prostaglandin (PG) A and J exert anti-viral and anti-proliferative effects in a number of experimental models. In particular, multiple treatments with PGAs prevent in vitro the clonal selection of HTLV-I-infected and potentially transformed cord-blood-derived mononuclear cells. Proliferation of HTLV-I-infected leukemic T cells is refractory in most cases to conventional anti-blastic therapy. We examined whether these cyclopentenone PGs might control cell proliferation and/or alter virus replication also in HTLV-I-transformed cells. We show that PGA1 and PGJ2 can exert powerful control of proliferation of the HTLV-I-immortalized, virus-producing MT-2 cell line, in a concentration-dependent fashion. Cells were preferentially arrested at the G1/S interface by treatment with PGA1 or PGJ2 without any detectable cellular toxicity. The anti-proliferative effect of PG treatment was independent of the growth phase of MT-2 cells, since both asynchronous and synchronous cells were sensitive to treatment. This effect was accompanied by an increase in the synthesis of a 70 kDa heat-shock protein (HSP70). However, synthesis of HSP70 was induced to a much greater extent by PGJ2 than by PGA1 at the same concentration. Neither PGA1 or PGJ2 inhibited the transcription of HTLV-I in MT-2 cells, but treatment with PGJ2, and not with PGA1, moderately inhibited the synthesis of viral proteins, i.e., p40 Tax and p19 core proteins. Moreover, infection of recipient K562 cells was significantly inhibited after pre-treatment of MT-2 cells with PGJ2 14 hr before or co-treatment at the onset of the co-culture with K562 cells. This effect was not obtained when MT-2 cells were repeatedly pre-treated with PGJ2 for 1 week before co-culturing. This suggests that reduced infection could be related to impairment of some step in virus-transmission phase.

A theory for analysis of cell populations with non-cycling S phase cells

Analyses of cell populations that have been labeled in vivo with analogs of thymidine that are incorporated by cells synthesizing DNA and then monitored over time by bivariate flow cytometry sometimes detect populations of cells that have S phase DNA content but that have not acquired label. Two alternative explanations for the lack of labeling are that either the cells were not exposed to the label or that the cells stopped DNA synthesis and ceased progression through S phase. To help determine which scenario is the more likely, a model has been devised for studying a population of cells that includes the possibility that cells in S phase will cease DNA synthesis. In this model, the initial fraction of unlabeled cells in S phase depends on two rates: the growth rate of the total population and the number of cells that cease progression through S phase per unit time. The model is used to analyze the changing quantities which can be measured by monitoring the population of cells over time and is used to estimate the two rates required to compute the initial fraction of unlabeled S phase cells. Thus, the initial fraction of unlabeled cells can be compared with that predicted by the population dynamics to determine whether one explanation for the failure of some cells to be labeled is preferable to the other, which in turn might offer information about tumor microvascular or cytologic properties.

Quantification of cell kinetic characteristics using flow cytometric measurements of deoxyribonucleic acid and bromodeoxyuridine for bladder cancer

A total of 56 human bladder tumors that were histologically proved to be transitional cell carcinoma was analyzed by simultaneous flow cytometric 2-color measurements of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and bromodeoxyuridine. Bromodeoxyuridine in vitro labeling was performed by sample incubation with bromodeoxyuridine under high atmospheric pressure oxygen. Grade 1 tumors showed 33.3% aneuploidy with a mean bromodeoxyuridine positive stained ratio (labeling index) of 5.1 +/- 3.4%. Grade 2 tumors featured 51.7% aneuploidy with a mean labeling index of 8.9 +/- 7.7%. On the other hand, a markedly increased labeling index of 15.2 +/- 8.2% with aneuploidy was observed in all but 1 grade 3 tumors. When DNA ploidy and labeling indexes were compared according to the presence or absence of muscular invasion of tumors, all 16 muscle invasive tumors showed aneuploidy (mean labeling index 18.7 +/- 8.0%), while 17 of 40 nonmuscle invasive tumors showed aneuploidy (mean labeling index 8.6 +/- 5.4%). This labeling index difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). These results indicate that bromodeoxyuridine/DNA 2-color flow cytometry may provide an objective parameter for quantification of the malignant potential of bladder cancers.

Flow cytometric measurement of cell cycle kinetics in rat Walker-256 carcinoma following in vivo and in vitro pulse labelling with bromodeoxyuridine

Flow cytometric measurements of total DNA content, cell cycle distribution, and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) uptake were made in rat Walker-256 carcinoma cells. After both in vivo and in vitro pulse labelling with BrdUrd, Walker-256 tumor cells were stained with propidium iodide (PI) to estimate the total DNA content and a monoclonal antibody against BrdUrd to estimate the relative amount of cells in S phase. BrdUrd-labelled single cell suspensions were harvested at different time intervals to determine the movement of these cells within the cell cycle. To increase BrdUrd uptake, fluorodeoxyuridine (FDU), a thymidine antagonist, was also applied in vivo and in vitro. The results indicated exponential growth characteristics for this tumor between days 5 and 8 after implantation. Tumor doubling times, derived from changes in tumor volume in vivo and from the increase in cell number in vitro were similar. The mean time for DNA synthesis was estimated from the relative movement of BrdUrd-labelled cells towards G2. The percent of cells labelled with BrdUrd and the DNA synthesis time were similar regardless of the mode of BrdUrd administration. This study demonstrates that BrdUrd labelling of rat Walker-256 carcinoma cells in vitro yields kinetic estimates of tumor proliferation during exponential growth similar to those with the administration of BrdUrd in the intact tumor-bearing rat.

Method for kinetic analysis of drug-induced cell cycle perturbations

A method is described for quantitative study of the flux of cells through the cell cycle phases in in vitro systems perturbed by chemicals, such as chemotherapeutic agents. The method utilizes cell count and the flow cytometric technique of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) labeling, according to an optimized strategy. Cells are exposed to BrdUrd during the last minutes of drug treatment and fixed for analysis at 0, 1/3Ts, 2/3Ts, Ts, and Tc + TG1 recovery times, where Ts, TG1, Tc are the mean durations of phases S and G1 and of the whole cycle of control cells. As an example of application of the proposed procedure, a kinetic study of the effect of 1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (CNU) on the L1210 cell cycle is described. Simple data analysis, requiring only a pocket calculator, showed that cells in phases G1 and G2M at the end of a 1 h treatment with 1 microgram/ml CNU were fully able to leave these phases but were destined to remain blocked in the following G2M phase (G1 for a minority of them). We also found that cells initially in S phase were slightly delayed in completing their S phase and that 50% of them remained temporarily blocked in the subsequent G2M phase, irrespective of their position in the S phase.

New methods for calculating kinetic properties of cells in vitro using pulse labelling with bromodeoxyuridine

The transit times of Chinese hamster ovary cells through the phases of their cell cycle were measured using dual parameter flow cytometry to measure DNA content and the presence of monoclonal antibodies to bromodeoxyuridine. Up to four separate populations can be accurately measured: unlabelled cells in G2 + M; labelled cells that have not yet divided; labelled cells that have already divided; and the unlabelled cells that were originally in G1 plus the cells that were originally in G2 + M and have since divided. The fractions of cells in these populations can be easily followed in time and the usual kinetic properties can be estimated from these fractions, or combinations thereof, including the times through G1, S, G2 + M and the cycle time. We present equations for analysing this type of data and comment on which equations are most appropriate for measuring specific kinetic properties of the cells.

Tracer dose and availability time of thymidine and bromodeoxyuridine: application of bromodeoxyuridine in cell kinetic studies

The present experiments with [14C]-thymidine (TdR) and [3H]-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) using mouse jejunal crypt cells show that the upper limit of the tracer dose of TdR is about 0.5 microgram g body weight-1 and that of BrdU is about 5.0 micrograms g body weight-1. Applying these doses, the proportions of the endogenous DNA synthesis attributed to the exogenous DNA precursor are 2% and 9% respectively. For [3H]-TdR doses commonly used in cell kinetic studies this proportion is only 0.1-1.0%, a negligible quantity that does not influence the endogenous DNA synthesis. The maximum availability time of tracer doses of TdR as well as BrdU is 40 to 60 min, the majority of the precursors being incorporated after 20 min. The availability time is the same for TdR doses exceeding the tracer dose by a factor of 80, whereas it is prolonged in the case of BrdU doses exceeding the tracer dose by a factor of 50. BrdU is suitable to replace radioactively labelled TdR in short term cell kinetic studies, i.e. determination of the labelling index or of the S phase duration by double labelling. However, more studies are needed to elucidate how far BrdU can replace TdR in long term studies as shown by differences between the fraction of labelled mitoses (FLM) curves of a human renal cell carcinoma measured with BrdU and [3H]-TdR.

Detection of S cells and evaluation of DNA denaturation protocols by image cytometry of fluorescent BrdUrd labelling

This paper addresses the problem of detecting weak incorporation of BrdUrd and the related efficiency of the denaturation protocols used to unmask this thymidine analog. Evidence is presented that measuring the distribution of BrdUrd-tagged fluorescence intensities by image cytometry generates a standard deviation threshold that discriminates between positive and negative MRC5 cells in vitro. A comparison of the thresholding by standard deviation (SDT) with the usual thresholding by the nuclear total fluorescence intensity (FIT) demonstrated that SDT has a significantly higher sensitivity (99.4-100%, depending on the denaturation protocols) than FIT (94.7 and 74.3%, respectively), although both tests have a high specificity (93% and 100%, respectively) for detecting S cells. Since detecting the S cells is not only dependent on the test used, but also on the denaturation protocols, a quality index (QI) was derived from the standard deviation and the mean value of the non-specific fluorescence of negative cell population versus BrdUrd fluorescence of positive cell population. The following DNA denaturation protocols have been assessed according to QI: acidic denaturation, thermal denaturation in formamide, and thermal denaturation in distilled water. Each denaturation procedure was preceded or not by incubation in either proteinase K or Triton X-100. The results showed that thermal denaturation in formamide, especially when preceded by proteinase K incubation, revealed the largest difference between negative and positive cells. This work also demonstrated that image cytometry of BrdUrd-labelled cells can be suitable for clinical application because of the high sensitivity provided and the small samples needed.

Effects of anti-IgM suppression on polyclonally activated murine B cells: analysis of immunoglobulin mRNA, gene specific nuclear factors and cell cycle distribution

Polyclonal activation of murine B cells with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and dextran sulfate (DxS) results in cell proliferation as well as increased immunoglobulin gene transcription and antibody secretion. When added to B cell cultures during mitogen activation, anti-mu antibody suppresses the rate of proliferation and immunoglobulin gene expression. Using this model system we show that co-cultures of B cells with LPS/DxS and anti-mu resulted in a decrease of both mu and kappa chain mRNA. Suppression did not prevent B cell entry into cycle nor a significant alteration in the distribution of cells in phases of cell cycle, although it did prolong the cycle transit time in a dose dependent fashion as determined by bromodeoxyuridine pulse labelling. Analysis of B cell specific nuclear binding factors, which previously have been shown to be important in regulating immunoglobulin gene transcription were examined. Results show that the kappa-specific enhancer binding activity of NF-kappa B was induced in activated as well as suppressed cultures. The lymphoid specific factor NF-A2, which recognizes the octamer sequence motif in the promoters of immunoglobulin genes, was induced by the polyclonal activation but was selectively lost in extracts from suppressed cells. Thus, specific regulation of the nuclear factor which plays a critical role in both heavy and light chain immunoglobulin gene expression may contribute to the transcriptional suppression observed in anti-mu treated B cells.

Computing multiple cell kinetic properties from a single time point

New developments in experimental procedures have made it necessary to extend the theory for describing the movement of a population of cells and estimating the kinetic properties of the population. The new procedures are based on the use of fluorescent monoclonal antibodies to halogenated analogues of thymidine, which are incorporated as a label into cells during DNA synthesis. These populations may be examined by dual-parameter flow cytometry to discriminate between the labelled and unlabelled populations of cells and define their position within the DNA reproductive cycle. A particular need exists for a theory that can be used for measurements of tumors in which many cells are not actively cycling and only a single time point can be obtained. In order to develop a useful theory for evaluating the kinetic properties of the cells observed by these techniques, the standard methods of theoretical cell kinetics have been recast in a form that is amenable to the type of analysis demanded by these constraints and a novel method for the rapid analysis of the kinetic properties of the cell population is presented. The method is shown to yield a direct measurement for the population doubling time from a single time point as well as estimates for the transit times through each phase of the cell cycle. The method which is approximately linear is shown to be robust to the effects of different assumptions about the distribution of transit times as well as being insensitive to the effects of variation in the transit times of the cells. The methodology developed in this paper may also be used to examine other theoretical methods of computing kinetic properties.

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.

Effects of serum deprivation on Ki-67-reactive antigen. Expression in HeLa cells

In order to elucidate the relationship between the level of cellular Ki-67-reactive antigen and cell proliferation activity, the effects of serum deprivation on the antigen expression and cell proliferation of HeLa cells were investigated using flow cytometry. The antigen was constitutively expressed in almost all cells cultured in normal medium containing 10% calf serum. In the serum- deprived cells, the antigen-negative fraction increased with culture time, and the level of Ki-67-reactive antigen fell rapidly during the first 24 h. The reduction in the antigen caused by serum deprivation was independent of the cell cycle phase. Both BrdUrd incorporation and the S phase fraction were diminished during the experiment with evidence of cell growth retardation. However, after refeeding with fresh normal medium, the antigen level that had been reduced by serum deprivation recovered to the level of the control cells within 24 h. These results suggest that the level of Ki-67-reactive antigen in cells reflects their growth condition.

A model of chromatin-dependent DNA replication sequences based on the decondensation units hypothesis

A model of chromatin-dependent DNA replication sequences was developed on the previously reported "decondensation units" hypothesis and its kinetic properties were examined by way of calculating various numerical indices using a Monte Carlo procedure. The model has much in common with the previous one but a fundamental difference is that the unit is assumed to consist of linearly arranged H-, D-, A- and S-zones each containing genes of different functional categories which are called H-, D-, A- and S-genes, respectively. The units are decondensed by the action of D-factors, i.e. decondensation factors, from H-zone to the end of S-zone and the genes in decondensed regions release signals to produce housekeeping enzymes, D-factors, A-factors and S-factors. These products are stored and at the same time degraded. A-factors activate replication origins in the decondensed regions and S-factors induce DNA synthesis at the activated origins. Replicated DNA is recondensed and gene activities are shut down in the recondensed chromatin. The factors are produced under the control of chromosome cycle and in turn affect chromosomes. Thus, dual control mechanism operates as Mazia and Prescott have argued. Biochemical and cytogenetic basis of this model was reviewed briefly and some results of simulation presented which include DNA synthesis rate vs. DNA content relationships. An outstanding characteristic of the model is the constancy of cellular state in A-subphase located in the late G1.

Comparative study of proportion of S-phase cells in ascites and pleural effusions in ovarian carcinoma using antibromodeoxyuridine monoclonal antibody and DNA flow-cytometry

Bromodeoxyuridine (Brd-Urd) was utilized in vitro to detect proliferating cells in 33 samples of ascitic and pleural effusions of ovarian malignancies and the results were compared with DNA flow-cytometry. Percoll separated tumor cells were incubated in vitro with Brd-Urd. After treatment with anti-Brd-Urd monoclonal antibodies the proportion of fluorescent cells was evaluated on slides by microscopy. A good correspondence (r = 0.93) was found between the proportion of cells labelled with Brd-Urd and the S-phase cells evaluated from the DNA histograms. S-phase values were found to be higher in tumors with aneuploid than in diploid DNA index. Poorly differentiated tumors had higher values as compared to moderately or well differentiated tumors.

5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) quenching of acridine orange fluorescence distinguishes cycling and non-cycling normal and malignant bone marrow cells in vitro

Suppression of the green fluorescence of acridine orange by 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into cellular DNA was measured by flow cytometry. Bone marrow cells from normal volunteers and patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia acute lymphocytic leukemia acute myelogenous leukemia and multiple myeloma were incubated with BUdR in vitro. By 24 h acridine orange stained cycling cells that had synthesized DNA in the presence of BUdR were differentiated from quiescent cells as a second peak with quenched green fluorescence (DNA). After 72 h in culture 11-65% of the G0/G1 cells from normal bone marrows and bone marrows with myeloid leukemia were identified as cycling in culture by the presence of a second peak with quenched green fluorescence. A greater percentage of cells with BUdR quenched AO fluorescence was associated of acridine orange was higher in the cycling cells that had synthesized DNA in the presence of BUdR than in the non-cycling G0/G1 cells. In one patient with AML there was quenching of the DNA fluorescence of the aneuploid population but not the diploid population indicating that the aneuploid leukemia cells were proliferating. In contrast in patients with multiple myeloma, the quenched fluorescence of the diploid cell population and not the aneuploid cells, indicated that the diploid cells were proliferating. The cells from patients with untreated ALL failed to proliferation prohibiting an in vivo assessment of growth. Although measurements of proliferation obtained by this method are clearly influenced by the cell's adaptation to culture, measurement of BUdR quenching of acridine orange fluorescence is technically feasible and can identify and allow characterization of the cycling population of cells.

Effect of interferon-beta on the cell cycle of human glioma cell line U-251 MG: flow cytometric two-dimensional (BrdU/DNA) analysis

This paper describes the determination of the effect of IFN-beta on U-251 MG cells using the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU/DNA) analysis technique. The cell cycle perturbation of exponentially growing cells was estimated by a newly developed two-dimensional analysis of sequential BrdU/DNA distributions measured at 4-hr intervals after IFN-beta administration. The U-251 MG cell line was sensitive to IFN-beta, and cell proliferation was inhibited by 50.0% at 48 hr. Analysis of DNA histograms indicated that IFN-beta accumulated the cells in the S-phase, from 16 to 48 hr after treatment. In the two-dimensional analysis, labeled cells treated with IFN-beta moved from the S-phase through the G2M-phase and then entered the G1-phase within 12 hr after the initial treatment, in a pattern similar to labeled cells untreated with IFN-beta. After 16 hr, labeled cells treated with IFN-beta began to accumulate in the S-phase and remained there even after 48 hr. These results imply that IFN-beta may have an effect on the G1-phase, thereby inducing S-phase accumulation of human glioma cell line U-251 MG.

Cell cycle synchronization induced by tamoxifen and 17 beta-estradiol on MCF-7 cells using flow cytometry and a monoclonal antibody against bromodeoxyuridine

Cell cycle synchronization of MCF-7 hormone-sensitive human breast cancer cells has been evaluated after sequential treatment with tamoxifen and 17 beta-estradiol. The analysis was performed by flow cytometry. Two methods were used, one for single-parameter DNA content analysis, and one for bivariate analysis of DNA content and amount of incorporated bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) into DNA using a specific monoclonal antibody. According to the BrdUrd method, tamoxifen was found (over a 30h period) to decrease (with respect to cells grown in control medium) the fraction of cells in S phase from 45% to 20%, to increase cells in G0 + G1 from 47% to 68%, and to induce a slight build-up of cells in G2 + M. Subsequent addition of estradiol resulted in partial synchronous recruitment of the cells from G0 + G1 to progress through the S phase; after 6-8 h delay time, the percentage of cells in G0 + G1 decreased by 50% and cells in S increased by 175%. The bivariate BrdUrd technique offered more reliable and detailed information than the single-parameter DNA analysis for differentiating and measuring the time course of estrogen-recruited cells as they progressed through early and late S phase, and has the potential for a very detailed cell kinetic analysis of both in vitro and in vivo hormone-sensitive cells.

Effects of denaturation with HCl on the immunological staining of bromodeoxyuridine incorporated into DNA

Immunochemical procedures for detection of BrdUrd incorporated into DNA require a denaturation step of DNA. Denaturation with HCl is widely used for flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle and for histological preparations. This brief communication describes an attempt to standardize a denaturation procedure with HCl. Various denaturation conditions at 20 degrees C were examined for human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60 cells) fixed in ethanol. After denaturation of DNA, the cells were stained by an indirect immunofluorescence method using a commercially available monoclonal anti-BrdUrd antibody or by propidium iodide. The relative fluorescence intensities of stained BrdUrd and double-stranded DNA were altered reciprocally by changing HCl concentration and/or denaturation time. Treatment with 4N HCl for 10-20 min at 20 degrees C allowed denaturation of more than 80% of DNA and the maximum BrdUrd-linked immunofluorescence. Under this condition, the coefficient of variation of the DNA histograms remained relatively small.

The cell cycle associated change of the Ki-67 reactive nuclear antigen expression

The change of human nuclear antigen expression in proliferating cells recognized by a monoclonal antibody, Ki-67, during the cell cycle was investigated in HeLa S3 cells using a bivariate-flow-cytometric analysis. The antigen was immunocytochemically stained with FITC, and DNA was stained with propidium iodide (Pl). The expression of the antigen increased with cell-cycle progression, especially in the latter half of S-phase and reached a maximum at G2M-phase, although its content varied greatly from cell to cell. The cells in which DNA synthesis was inhibited by treatment with hydroxyurea increased markedly in the antigen expression (as compared to untreated cells). Treatment with adriamycin also elevated the antigen content. After digestion with DNase I, but not after RNase treatment, FITC fluorescence from the antigen disappeared. These results suggest that the Ki-67 antigen is bound to DNA and its expression does not depend on DNA replication. Although the biological implications of the antigen remain unresolved, the antigen may be considered to be essential for maintaining the proliferating state of cells.

A model for the spatio-temporal organization of DNA replication in mammalian cells

The spatio-temporal organization of chromosomal DNA replication was analyzed using a model based on a "DNA unit" (or decondensation unit) hypothesis. The model is an extension of the fork movement theory of Huberman & Riggs (1968) and can account for a partially deterministic and partially stochastic order of DNA replication in chromosomes. It presumes that each chromosome is composed of DNA units that are arranged in sequence and that are replicated in parallel. A deterministic wave of chromatin decondensation propagates along the DNA unit continuously and progressively providing a field for the random activation of replication origin. Assignment of replication times to DNA compartments by a Monte Carlo method was programmed based on the model and the program was used to stimulate DNA synthesis rate curves that can be measured by the method of Dolbeare et al. (1983, 1985). The shape of the curve is shown to constrain possible parameter values of the model, which include the rate of fork movement, the fraction of chromatin that is decondensed at the start of S-phase, the initial number of origins activated, the rate at which new origins are activated, etc. The chromosomal organization that controls the molecular level of DNA replication is briefly reviewed and its relevance to the model is also discussed.

A rapid and simple estimation of cell cycle parameters by continuous labeling with bromodeoxyuridine

The DNA synthesis time (Ts) and other related cell cycle parameters were roughly estimated in HeLa cells labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) for various durations by using the flow cytometrical technique. The labeling indices increased in proportion to time after addition of BrdUrd. The Ts can be calculated from the slope of the regression line obtained by plotting the serial labeling indices against the labeling time and was equivalent to the value determined by fraction labeled cells in mid S-phase (FLSm) method. These parameters would be determined by only two samples labeled for different times. This simple method using BrdUrd provides rough but rapid estimation of Ts and other cell cycle parameters without complicated mathematical procedures, in addition to cell cycle partition of cell populations.

Cell cycle perturbation of cultured C6 glioma cells following short-term contact with a low dose of ACNU

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cell cycle perturbation of cultured C6 rat glioma cells induced by 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU) using simultaneous flow cytometric measurements of DNA and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) content. A new graphic computer program permitted the quantification of cell density in hexagonal subareas and allowed the fraction of BrdU-labeled cells with mid-S phase DNA content (FLS) to be defined in a narrow window. The cell kinetic parameters such as cell cycle time (Tc) and S phase time (Ts) were estimated from a manually plotted FLS curve at 18 and 6 hr, respectively. The major effect of ACNU on the cell cycle was an accumulation of the cells in the G2M phase 12 to 24 hr posttreatment when compared to G2M traverse of untreated cells. For the two-dimensional analysis, cells were labeled with BrdU and then treated with ACNU, or treated with ACNU and then labeled with BrdU. It was concluded that the cells in the S and G2M phases at the time of ACNU administration progressed to mitosis but that the G1 phase cells accumulated in the subsequent G2M phase. Two-dimensional FCM analysis using BrdU provided a useful tool in studying cell cycle perturbation.