Apoptosis detection by flow cytometry

Abstract

Apoptosis is a biologically important form of cell death and therefore detection and measurement of apoptosis have become imperative. Apoptotic cells have many characteristics that can be measured by flow cytometry. These include cell plasma membrane changes, changes in plasma membrane permeability, changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability, caspase activation, and DNA cleavage. Determination of any one or a combination of these changes by flow cytometry allows the identification and quantification of apoptotic cells in a mixed population. It can also give valuable information about the molecular pathways that cells take during cell death. The advantages and limitations of each procedure designed to measure any of these characteristics are discussed, and some illustrated protocols are described.