title: A first step in visual identification of different cell populations by a modified alkaline comet assay.
abstract: Using a particular model of apoptosis, we here demonstrate the ability of the comet assay to differentiate between different cell populations. In our study, the natural killer Kurloff cells, used as effector cells, recognize and bind to the tumoral L2C target cells. Formation of such conjugates leads to the death of the target cells by apoptosis, as previously described by different conventional techniques. With the alkaline comet assay, a conjugate could directly be visualized as an association of an undamaged cell joined to a highly damaged cell. The modified comet assay used in this study comprises specific labelling of Kurloff cells with immunomagnetic beads, which are visible as grey-dull spheres against the bright-red staining of nuclear origin on the comet preparation. The use of such labelled effector cells suggest the potential of the comet assay to visually identify different cell populations in an unique test.
authors.affiliation: GRECAN/INSERM CJF 96-03, Université de Caen, Laboratoire de cancérologie expérimentale, Centre François Baclesse, 14076 Cedex 05, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Godard
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gauduchon
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debout
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D020552:Comet Assay; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*