title: Characterization of cells with different mitochondrial membrane potential during apoptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Until now, the simultaneous analysis of several parameters during apoptosis, including DNA content and mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi), has not been possible because of the spectral characteristics of the commonly used dyes. Using polychromatic flow cytometry based upon multiple laser and UV lamp excitation, we have characterized cells with different DeltaPsi during apoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  U937 cells were treated with the flavonoid quercetin (Qu) and stained with JC-1 to detect DeltaPsi, propidium iodide (PI) for cell viability, Hoechst 33342 for DNA content, Annexin V conjugated with Alexa Fluor-647 for detection of phosphatidilserine (PS) exposure, marker of early apoptosis, or Mitotracker Deep Red for the determination of mitochondrial mass.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with Qu provoked the onset of three cell populations with different DeltaPsi: (1) healthy cells, with normal DeltaPsi, DNA content and physical parameters, high mitochondrial mass, PI- and Annexin V-negative; (2) cells with intermediate DeltaPsi and normal DNA content, but with physical parameters typical of apoptotic cells and low mitochondrial mass; most of them were PI+ and Annexin V+; (3) cells with collapsed DeltaPsi that had low mitochondrial mass and were Annexin-V+, PI+; half of them showed diminished DNA content. Similar results, i.e. the presence of cells with intermediate DeltaPsi, were observed in other models of apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During Qu-induced apoptosis, loss of DeltaPsi, PS exposure, and decrease of mitochondrial mass are early events that precede permeability to PI and loss of DNA. Populations of cells with different DeltaPsi, as revealed by flow cytometry after JC-1 staining, differed also for other parameters associated to apoptosis. Thus, the simultaneous analysis of several parameters by polychromatic flow cytometry permits a better identification of many stages of cell death, and, more in general, allows to evaluate the eventual heterogenic sensibility of the population under study to a given compound.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chair of Immunology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lugli
authors.forename: Leonarda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Troiano
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferraresi
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roat
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prada
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasi
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinti
authors.forename: Edwin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D002232:Carbocyanines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; C068624:5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolocarbocyanine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D004247:DNA; D011794:Quercetin; D003630:Daunorubicin