False-positive apoptosis signal in mouse kidney and liver detected with TUNEL assay

Apoptosis is a physiological, programmed process for the elimination of cells from living organisms. Currently, one of the most frequently used methods to detect apoptosis is TUNEL assay. It has provided valuable information about apoptosis in various tissues. However, the sensitivity and the specif...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Apoptosis (London) 2000-10, Vol.5 (4), p.329
Main Authors: Pulkkanen, K J, Laukkanen, M O, Naarala, J, Yla-Herttuala, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Apoptosis
Bromodeoxyuridine - metabolism
Carcinoma, Renal Cell - pathology
Caspase 3
Caspases - metabolism
Cell Division
Cells
DNA - metabolism
DNA Fragmentation
Enzymatic activity
False Positive Reactions
Hepatocytes - cytology
Hepatocytes - physiology
Humans
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Kidney - cytology
Kidney - metabolism
Kidney Neoplasms - pathology
Kidneys
Light microscopy
Liver
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred BALB C
Mice, Nude
Neoplasm Transplantation
Rodents
Sensitivity and Specificity
Spleen - cytology
Testis - cytology
Tumor Cells, Cultured - transplantation
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Apoptosis is a physiological, programmed process for the elimination of cells from living organisms. Currently, one of the most frequently used methods to detect apoptosis is TUNEL assay. It has provided valuable information about apoptosis in various tissues. However, the sensitivity and the specificity of TUNEL technique have also been criticized. We detected an intense false-positive apoptotic signal in nude and Balb/c mice kidney and liver. In kidney the signal was confined to the proximal, distal and collecting tubular cells, and in liver to hepatocytes. Both tissues appeared normal in light microscopy, and no DNA ladder formation or increase in caspase-3 enzyme activity was detected. BrdU labelling and Ki-67 immunostaining did not reveal increased cell proliferation in these tissues. On the other hand, false-positive signal was not detected in testis, spleen, pancreas or renal cell carcinoma from the same animals. Also, no false-positive signal was seen in human liver or kidney samples. Although factors known to produce false-positive staining related to sample harvesting, preparation and staining protocols were eliminated, the cause of the false- positive apoptotic signal remains unknown. We conclude that caution must be exercised when examining apoptosis in mouse tissues with TUNEL assay.
ISSN:1360-8185
1573-675X
DOI:10.1023/A:1009631424351