I want to perform a cell fusion assay, where one cell line is labeled with one color and the other cell line with another color, and combine with a nucleic acid stain. What do you recommend?
A typical method is to label one cell line with orange fluorescent DiI C18 and the other cell line with green fluorescent DiO C18. These orange and green lipophilic cyanine dyes will stain the membranes of cells. Cells that fuse will then have both dyes, yielding a yellow color (when images are overlaid or cells are imaged in a dual-bandpass filter). These live cells can then be labeled with Hoechst 33342 (a cell-permeant blue DNA stain comparable in wavelength to DAPI), but only as an endpoint just before imaging (since DNA stains can interrupt DNA function).
I need to look at live cell morphology deformation over the course of a few hours. What sort of membrane dye would be useful for this?
Lipophilic cyanine dyes, such as DiI (Cat. No. D282), DiO (Cat. No. D275), DiD (Cat. No. D7757) or DiR (Cat. No. D12731), are commonly used. The longer the alkyl chain on the dye, the better the retention in lipophilic environments.
No evidence of transdifferentiation of human endothelial progenitor cells into cardiomyocytes after coculture with neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.
Authors:Gruh I, Beilner J, Blomer U, Schmiedl A, Schmidt-Richter I, Kruse ML, Haverich A, Martin U
Journal:Circulation
PubMed ID:16520414
'BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested the differentiation of human endothelial progenitor cells (huEPCs) isolated from peripheral blood into cardiomyocytes. This study investigates whether, when cocultured, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) can induce transdifferentiation of huEPCs into cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Coculture experiments with 1,1''-dioctadecyl-3,3,3'',3''-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI)-labeled huEPCs and NRCMs have been performed. ... More
Human mesenchymal stem cells exert potent antitumorigenic effects in a model of Kaposi's sarcoma.
Authors:Khakoo AY, Pati S, Anderson SA, Reid W, Elshal MF, Rovira II, Nguyen AT, Malide D, Combs CA, Hall G, Zhang J, Raffeld M, Rogers TB, Stetler-Stevenson W, Frank JA, Reitz M, Finkel T,
Journal:J Exp Med
PubMed ID:16636132
'Emerging evidence suggests that both human stem cells and mature stromal cells can play an important role in the development and growth of human malignancies. In contrast to these tumor-promoting properties, we observed that in an in vivo model of Kaposi''s sarcoma (KS), intravenously (i.v.) injected human mesenchymal stem cells ... More
Intra-vital fluorescence microscopy for intra-myocardial graft detection following cell transplantation.
Authors:Ruhparwar A, Kofidis T, Ruebesamen N, Karck M, Haverich A, Martin U
Journal:Int J Cardiovasc Imaging
PubMed ID:16175449
'INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was the development of a potentially clinically applicable approach, which allows for intra-myocardial detection of the transplanted cells without the need for collection of tissue samples. Intra-myocardial transplantation of myocytes and bone marrow derived cells is currently under clinical evaluation as a therapy of ... More
Application and limitations of chloromethyl-benzamidodialkylcarbocyanine for tracing cells used in bone Tissue engineering.
Authors:Kruyt MC, De Bruijn J, Veenhof M, Oner FC, Van Blitterswijk CA, Verbout AJ, Dhert WJ,
Journal:Tissue Eng
PubMed ID:12625959
Bone tissue engineering has the potential to provide us with an autologous bone substitute. Despite extensive research to optimize the technique, little is known about the survival and function of the cells after implantation. To monitor the cells, in vivo labeling is the method of choice. In this study we ... More
Mesenchymal stem cells: isolation, characterisation and in vivo fluorescent dye tracking.
Cell therapies have been used to regenerate the heart by direct myocardial delivery, by coronary infusion and by surface attached scaffolds. Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) with capacity to differentiate into cardiomyocytes and other cell lines have been predominantly trialled in rodents. However, large animal models are increasingly needed to ... More