Cellular Proliferation and Cell Cycling

Proliferation is a common assay readout assessed by flow cytometry under normal and pathological conditions.

In many cases, it is the readout that allows for the analysis of a compound’s effect on biological processes.

Different techniques can be used to track cells during their proliferation process:

• Measuring DNA synthesis with dyes that incorporate newly synthesized DNA (bromodeoxyuridine – BrdU),
• Quantifying proliferation by tracking dye dilution (carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester – CFSE),
• Or monitoring cell cycling by using labeled cell cycle-associated proteins (e.g. Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen – PCNA).

With extensive expertise and knowledge in flow cytometry, CellCarta can phenotypically and functionally profile distinct immune cell subsets from whole blood, PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), and tissue samples by using CFSE and Ki-67.

CellCarta offers a qualified CFSE assay to measure cellular proliferation in response to clinical treatment and/or in vitro stimulations.

We also use Ki-67 as an early activation marker to identify cells that have entered a new cell cycle. The nuclear antigen Ki-67 is expressed in all active phases of the cell cycle (G1, S, G2 and M), but is absent from resting cells (G0).

We strategically combine additional cell surface and intracellular markers to these assays to provide complete and broad insights about cell subsets.

Applications:

• Provide information on the functionality and responsiveness of cell subsets from diseased and healthy individuals, both before and after treatment
• Identify cellular subsets that are actively proliferating
• Quantify the number of cell divisions a specific subset has undergone (proliferation index)
• Follow the clinical course of disease and response to treatment by tracking cellular proliferation markers