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Estimating cell death in G 2 M using bivariate BrdUrd/DNA flow cytometry
Author(s) -
White R. Allen,
Asmuth David M.,
Lu Ying,
Wang Nan,
Li XiaoDong,
Reece Lisa,
Pollard Richard B.,
Nokta Mostafa,
Leary James F.,
Terry Nicholas H. A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cytometry part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.316
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1552-4930
pISSN - 1552-4922
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.a.20147
Subject(s) - programmed cell death , flow cytometry , bivariate analysis , cell cycle , cell , biology , cell growth , thymidine , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , dna , statistics , mathematics , genetics
Background In an accompanying paper (Asmuth et al.) it was found necessary to include cell death explicitly to estimate parameters of cell proliferation. The use of bivariate flow cytometry to estimate the phase durations and the doubling times of cells labeled with thymidine analogues is well established. However, these methods of analysis do not consider the possibility of cell death. This report demonstrates that estimating cell death in G 2 /M is possible. Methods Mathematical models for the experimental quantities, the fraction of labeled undivided cells, the fraction of labeled divided cells, and the relative movement were developed. These models include the possibility that, of the cells with G 2 /M DNA content, only a certain fraction will divide, with the remainder dying after some time T R . Simulation studies were conducted to test the possibility of using simple methods to estimate phase durations and cell death rates. Results Cell death alters the estimates of phase transit times in a rather complex manner that depends on the lifetime of the doomed cells. However, it is still possible to obtain estimates of the phase durations of cells in S and G 2 /M and the death rates of cells in G 2 /M. Conclusions The methods presented herein provide a new way to characterize cell populations that includes cell death rates and common measurements of cell proliferation. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.