Molecular calibration in flow cytometry with sub-attogram detection limit

Molecular quantification of cell cycle-related gene expression at the protein level

BACKGROUND

Immunofluorescence cytometry of antigen and DNA content provides relative measurements of the cell cycle phase distribution of a specific epitope. Measurement of correlated expression of epitopes on signaling and regulatory proteins will be useful in the study of the complex pathways involved in cell cycle regulation and carcinogenesis. However, to formulate regulatory pathway models, measurements of molecules per cell would be more useful than relative measurements of intensity. Here, we report on a system in which the relationship between molecules and fluorescence is determined for a reference set of cell lines that are then used to directly calculate the number of molecules for unknowns. To demonstrate the process, we calculated the cell cycle phase distribution of SV40 large T antigen (Tag) in the reference cells.

METHODS

A set of cell line clones expressing different levels of Tag were isolated. Quantitative Western blots of these cells and purified, recombinant Tag were performed. Cells from the same sample were stained and analyzed by flow cytometry for Tag and DNA. The relationship between molecules and fluorescence was established and calculations were performed for the phase distributions of Tag.

RESULTS

The five cell lines had 0.11, 0.27, 1.06, 2.44, and 2.63 x 10(6) molecules of Tag per cell, determined by Western blot. The average coefficient of variation was 10.6%. The relationship of molecules to fluorescence fit a linear equation (r(2) = 0.96) over the range, 0.11 - 2.63 x 10(6) molecules, however, the same equation did not fit the relationship between 0 molecules, defined by isotype staining controls, and the lowest expressing cell line. To calculate the phase distributions of molecules in the lowest cell line, a second linear equation from 0 to 110,000 molecules was used.

CONCLUSIONS

This work describes a system where fixed cells expressing various levels of a target antigen quantified by Western blots can be used to standardize flow cytometric measurements of gene expression in absolute terms.

Multiparameter flow-cytometric quantitation of epidermal growth factor receptor and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in normal and neoplastic tissues of the female genital tract

A novel multiparameter flow-cytometric method was used to quantify the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein on 85 cryopreserved normal tissues (30 ovary, 29 endometrium, 16 cervix) and 67 carcinomas (31 ovarian, 18 cervical, 15 endometrial, 3 vulvar). Overexpression of the EGFR and c-erbB-2 oncoproteins was found in respectively 3/31 (9%) and 10/31 (32%) ovarian carcinomas, 13/18 (72%) and 7/18 (38%) cervical carcinomas, and 2/15 (13%) and 2/15 (13%) endometrial carcinomas. Oncoprotein expression was significantly higher in the malignant tumors (for all tumor sites) than in the corresponding normal tissues (P less than 0.034 for all combinations). Aneuploid tumors expressed levels of EGFR and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein significantly higher than those of DNA diploid tumors (P = 0.042 and P = 0.048, respectively). Oncoprotein could be detected in nearly all normal tissues: expression was higher in premenopausal than in postmenopausal patients (EGFR, P = 0.07; c-erbB-2, P less than 0.001). The present study supports the idea that EGFR and c-erbB-2 may play an important role in the autocrine, paracrine, and/or endocrine growth control and differentiation of normal tissues. Alteration in the expression of these oncoproteins is probably involved in malignant transformation and tumorigenesis.

A flow cytometric assay for measuring complement receptor 1 (CR1) and the complement fragments C3d and C4d on erythrocytes

A flow cytometric assay (FCA) was developed to measure complement receptor 1 (CR1) and the complement fragments C3d and C4d on erythrocytes. It was possible to measure these parameters accurately with intra- and interassay coefficients of variation of 2.0% and 6.5% respectively. The method was able to discriminate between low and high levels of erythrocyte CR1, C3d and C4d. Comparison with a previously described RIA method gave excellent correlation coefficients with r2 values of 0.94, 0.93 and 0.91 for CR1, C3d and C4d respectively. The flow cytometric assay was used to measure CR1, C3d and C4d on the erythrocytes of 98 healthy individuals and the 95% upper limits for C3d and C4d were established. There was a wide distribution of CR1 levels amongst these individuals but their C3d and C4d levels were low and often not above background. The possible application of this method in clinical medicine is discussed.

Calibration of fluorescence intensities to quantify antibody binding surface determinants of cell subpopulations by flow cytometry

Quantitative indirect immunofluorescence analysis by flow cytometry was used to determine the mean number of antibody binding sites per cell in a small subpopulation of rat brain cells expressing low levels of a cell surface differentiation antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody (Mab) RB13-6 (Kindler-Röhrborn et al.: Differentiation 30:53-60, 1985). For these non-disjunct distributions of fluorescence intensities, the cut-off border between antigen-positive and antigen-negative cells was defined by a statistical test. To eliminate the influence of accidental disturbances leading to incorrect statistical decisions, the curves for antigen-negative cells were fitted according to cell number and shape. The flow cytometer was calibrated with the use of a clonal cell line for which the average number of Mab RB13-6 binding sites per cell had previously been determined by radioimmunoassay and Scatchard-plot analysis. Using this analytical procedure, both the proportion of Mab binding brain cells and the mean number of Mab binding sites per Mab binding cell could be determined as a function of developmental stage.

Detection by immunofluorescence of surface molecules present in low copy numbers. High sensitivity staining and calibration of flow cytometer

Receptors for lymphokines and growth factors are present on cell surfaces often at concentrations of 100-500 copies per cell. Although conventional immunofluorescence cannot detect such low levels, cell membrane antigens present at these concentrations can be detected using an optimally set up flow cytometer together with a three-layer immunofluorescence technique, consisting of monoclonal antibody reacted with selected batches of biotinylated horse anti-mouse immunoglobulin and phycoerythrin-streptavidin. In this study we purified and radiolabelled a number of monoclonal antibodies, determined the specific radioactivity by self-displacement analysis, and used the radiolabelled antibody in experiments where the number of molecules of antibody bound per cell and the fluorescence intensity were measured on the same sample. This permitted us to determine the sensitivity of the fluorescence procedure in molecules per cell, using several different antibody/target cell combinations. The method was consistently capable of detecting fewer than 100 molecules of antibody bound per cell.

A rapid method for quantitating lymphocyte receptor capping: capping defect in AIDS patients

Capping of concanavalin A (Con A) and anti-Leu-8 (L8) receptors on human peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) membranes was studied utilizing fluorochrome-conjugated ligands and flow cytometric analysis. Histogram profiles of fluorescent intensities consistently revealed a time-dependent decrease in numbers of brightly fluorescing events concurrent with an increase in numbers of dimly fluorescing events when capping occurs. Differences in fluorescence profiles were detectable by flow cytometric analysis as early as 5 min after capping conditions were initiated. A pronounced defect in receptor capping of PBM cells from AIDS patients was observed. This technique represents a rapid and reproducible means for detecting early changes in cell membrane receptor mobility.

Flow cytometry chamber with 4 pi light collection suitable for epifluorescence microscopes

A compact, solid, spherico-ellipsoidal chamber (SEC), which has approaching 4 pi ("all around") light collection, has been developed for flow cytometry. This was mounted onto the stage of a standard fluorescence photomicroscope, and the camera was replaced by a photomultiplier. Both components can be added or removed in minutes. The increased light collection efficiency of the SEC (about 85%) compared with about 4% from standard chambers enabled a fluorescence microscope with a 50 W mercury vapour lamp to "double" as a flow cytometer. The system was tested with microbeads and cells stained for DNA with ethidium bromide, and results were comparable to those obtained with our laser-based instrument.

Model system evaluating fluorescein-labeled microbeads as internal standards to calibrate fluorescence intensity on flow cytometers

Fluorescence intensity calibration was evaluated in a model system for flow cytometers using commercially available fluorescein-labeled microbeads as internal standards and stabilized fluoresceinated thymus cell nuclei (Fluorotrol) as surrogates for stained mononuclear cells. Spectrophotometrically determined calibration values for the microbeads were used to generate a standard curve that converted green fluorescence histogram channels into molecular equivalents of soluble fluorescein (MESF). In 19 analyses repeated during a single run, the coefficients of variation (CVs) for the derived MESF values on both dimly and brightly stained Fluorotrol populations were less than 2%. In 26 separate determinations over 14 weeks, the CVs of the derived MESF values were less than 3%. The MESF values of the dim and bright Fluorotrol populations derived from the microbead standard curves were both about 50% lower than those determined by direct spectrophotometric analysis of Fluorotrol. The analytical imprecision of fluorescence intensity measurements in this idealized model system has a CV less than 3%, and the analytical inaccuracy shows that calibration in MESF units remains uncertain over about a two-fold range.

Flow cytometric quantitation of the c-myc oncoprotein in archival neoplastic biopsies of the colon

The c-myc oncogene encoded protein product, p62c-myc, was assayed simultaneously with DNA in populations of individual nuclei extracted from archival biopsies of colonic neoplasia. Both the protein and DNA were assayed fluorimetrically using flow cytometry with a synthetic peptide induced monoclonal antibody (MYC 1-6E10) for the protein and propidium iodide for DNA. The nuclear p62c-myc levels increased progressively from normal mucosa through polyps to carcinomas. However, there was a trend for the more poorly differentiated carcinomas to exhibit lower levels than moderately and well-differentiated tumours, p = 0.085. These results agree with those published previously with the same antibody using Western blotting for protein extracted from fresh frozen tissue and immunocytochemical assessment. Furthermore, flow cytometry is able to effect discriminations between subsets in heterogeneous populations using DNA as a second parameter which Western blot bulk studies cannot.

Enumeration of CR1 complement receptors on erythrocytes using a new method for detecting low density cell surface antigens by flow cytometry

A sensitive enhancing system was developed for detecting low density cell surface antigen by flow cytometry. The system termed the 'super avidin-biotin system' (SABS) uses biotinylated antibody, phycoerythrin-streptavidin (StreptA-PE), biotinylated goat anti-streptavidin antibody, and StreptA-PE. CR1 complement receptor antigenic sites were quantified on erythrocytes from healthy individuals and patients with antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using SABS and a conventional radioimmunoassay (RIA) with monoclonal anti-CR1 antibody. As little as 50 sites/cell were detected using either SABS or RIA. Accurate quantification of CR1 antigenic sites was achieved within the range of 100-1300 sites/cell. Similar results were obtained using either of the two methods. Intra-assay and day-to-day reproducibilities using SABS were 2% and 12% respectively, comparable to those of conventional RIA measurements. In addition to enumeration of CR1 on erythrocytes for clinical purposes, the use of SABS may probably be extended to a wide number of situations where a sensitive detection of low density cell surface antigen is needed.