The Use of Carboxyfluorescein Diacetate Succinimidyl Ester (CFSE) to Monitor Lymphocyte Proliferation
October 12th, 2010
CFSE covalently labels long-lived intracellular molecules with the fluorescent dye, carboxyfluorescein. As such, when a CFSE-labeled cell divides, its progeny have half the amount of fluorescence, which can thereby be used to assess cell division. This article describes the procedures typically used for labeling mouse lymphocytes with CFSE.
The overall goal of this experiment is to label lymphocytes with the intracellular fluorescent dye, CFSE, so that lymphocytes can be monitored for cell division by flow cytometry. This is achieved by mixing lymphocytes with CFDA se, which is the diacetyl form of CFSE. The two acetyl groups allow the dye to rapidly enter cells within lymphocytes.
Esterases remove the acetyl groups from the C-F-D-A-S-E, forming the CFSE form of the dye. Without the acetyl groups, CFSE becomes fluorescent and is also less membrane permeant, thus concentrating the dye within cells. The amino reactive AL side chain of CFSE then covalently couples the dye to intracellular proteins, thus making the cells almost permanently fluorescent.
CFSE can be used to monitor lymphocyte division based on the sequential having of the fluorescence intensity of daughter cells. The main advantage of this technique over existing methods such as tritiated thymidine incorporation, is that individual cells can be monitored for cell division. Demonstrating the procedure will be Ben Qua, a research fellow from my laboratory In order to label cells.
Begin with freshly isolated lymphocytes from spleen or lymph nodes of mice and add a concentration of between half and 10 million cells per milliliter of culture medium, supplemented with 5%heat. Inactivated fetal calf serum thoroughly resuspend the cells and carefully transfer one milliliter to the bottom of a fresh 10 milliliter conical tube. Lay the tube horizontally carefully.
Add 110 microliters of PBS to the top of the tube in the non wetted portion of the plastic, ensuring it does not make contact with the cell solution. Add fresh dye solution of 1.1 microliters of the five millimolar stock of C-F-D-A-S-E to the 110 microliters of PBS. Quickly cap the tube and invert and vortex well to get quick uniform mixing of the solutions since the dye becomes fluorescent and thus prone to bleaching.
Protect the tube from light by covering the tube with aluminum foil. Incubate the cells for five minutes at room temperature wash cells by diluting in 10 volumes of 20 degrees Celsius, PBS containing 5%H-I-F-C-S sedimenting by centrifugation at 300 Gs for five minutes at 20 degrees Celsius and discarding the supernatant. Repeat the wash twice more.
Cells can then be applied to a protocol of interest for induction of cell division. Labeled cells can be used in both in vitro and in vivo assays. At the completion of the proliferation assay, cells are harvested and analyzed by flow cytometry.
In this example, CFSE labeling is used in vitro to measure how T cells from genetically modified transgenic mice respond to dendritic cells pulsed with different concentrations of antigen. The unshaded CFSE dilution peaks depict transgenic CD eight positive T cells that have divided one to three times. It can be seen that more T cells divide at the higher concentrations of the antigen.
The CFSE labeling method is also amenable to in vivo assays like adoptive transfer experiments. Here fax is used to identify the population of T cells that are of interest in recipient mice. A subsequent CFSE proliferation profile depicts CD eight positive T cells that have divided one to six times based on CFSE dilution peaks After its development.
This procedure paved the way for researchers and immunology to explore lymphocyte proliferation during an immune response.
Overview
This article describes the procedure for labeling mouse lymphocytes with the fluorescent dye CFSE, enabling the monitoring of cell division through flow cytometry. The method allows researchers to track lymphocyte proliferation during immune responses.
Key Study Components
Area of Science
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Flow Cytometry
Background
- CFSE is a fluorescent dye used to label intracellular proteins.
- It allows for the assessment of cell division by measuring fluorescence dilution in daughter cells.
- This technique offers advantages over traditional methods like tritiated thymidine incorporation.
- CFSE labeling can be applied in both in vitro and in vivo assays.
Purpose of Study
- To demonstrate the CFSE labeling technique for monitoring lymphocyte division.
- To provide a detailed protocol for researchers to follow.
- To highlight the application of CFSE in studying T cell responses to antigens.
Methods Used
- Isolation of lymphocytes from mouse spleen or lymph nodes.
- Mixing lymphocytes with CFDA SE to facilitate dye entry.
- Incubation and washing of cells to remove excess dye.
- Flow cytometry analysis to assess cell division based on CFSE dilution.
Main Results
- CFSE labeling allows for the tracking of T cell division in response to varying antigen concentrations.
- Flow cytometry reveals distinct peaks corresponding to different division levels of T cells.
- The method is effective for both in vitro and in vivo applications.
- Results demonstrate the utility of CFSE in immunological research.
Conclusions
- CFSE labeling is a reliable method for studying lymphocyte proliferation.
- This technique enhances the understanding of immune responses.
- Researchers can utilize this method for various experimental designs.
