Determination of telomere length by flow-fluorescence in situ hybridization in Down's syndrome patients.
A new method for measuring telomere length in a population of Down's syndrome patients aged 18-60 years old is presented. The method is based on flow cytometry and quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (flow-FISH) on whole cells. At least three methods for measuring the length of telomere repeats have been described: (i) Southern blot analysis, and quantitative FISH using either (ii) digital fluorescence microscopy (Q-FISH) or (iii) flow cytometry (flow-FISH). Both Southern blot analysis and Q-FISH have specific limitations and are time-consuming, whereas flow-FISH needed relatively few cells (1.5-2.5 x 106) and could be completed in 24-48 h. The method can be used to rapidly determine telomere length in subsets of nucleated blood cells from patients with age-related diseases such as Down's syndrome, Alzheimer's disease and Werner syndrome.
Brando
B
B
Laboratory of Transplant Immunology and Hematologic Diagnosis, Hospital Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy.
Longo
A
A
Beltrami
B
B
Passoni
D
D
Verna
R
R
Licastro
F
F
Corsi
M M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*