[Flow cytometry in clinical laboratory medicine].
Flow cytometric analysis of blood cells is an important technique for the evaluation of the immunological functions of patients with various disorders, and also for the differential diagnosis of leukemias. In the lymphocyte subset analysis, special attention should be paid to the optimal gating of lymphocytes. We recommend the use of CD13 and CD33 to ascertain more accurate gating of lymphocytes and more efficient monitoring of the contamination of non-lymphoid cells, especially in patients with PNH, in addition to CD45 and CD14, which are already utilized routinely. We also feel that 2-color and 3-color analyses should be applied more frequently for the routine laboratory tests for lymphocyte subsets. With regard to the analysis of leukemia cells, the combined use of nuclear DNA content or TdT (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase) with other routine cellular markers is quite useful for the analysis of a small number of leukemia cells, and enables the differentiation of leukemia cells from the contaminating non-malignant cells, particularly in the analysis of the minimal residual diseases. Among the cellular markers defined by specific monoclonal antibodies, we stress the physiological significance of recently developed cell adhesion molecules, such as selectins and their carbohydrate ligands, which are closely involved in the recruitment of leukocytes in inflammatory responses, as well as in the infiltration processes of leukemia cells.
Ohmori
K
K
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kyoto University, School of Medicine.
Yoneda
T
T
Sugiyama
S
S
Mori
T
T
Kannagi
R
R
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules