Intercomparison of apoptosis morphology with active DNA cleavage on single cells in vitro and on testis tumours

Apoptosis morphology (DNA condensation) and endonucleolytical DNA cleavage (TdT assay) were measured simultaneously on double fluorescence labelled cells employing confocal laser scanning and conventional immunofluorescence microscopy. In vitro experiments on irradiated HL‐60 cells revealed a high c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of pathology 1998-08, Vol.185 (4), p.419-426
Main Authors: Abend, M., Schmelz, H.-U., Kraft, K., Rhein, A. P., Van Beuningen, D., Sparwasser, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
apoptosis
Apoptosis - genetics
Apoptosis - radiation effects
Biological and medical sciences
DNA Fragmentation
DNA, Neoplasm - genetics
HL-60 cells
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
laser scanning microscopy
Leukemia, Myeloid - pathology
Male
Medical sciences
Microscopy, Confocal
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Miscellaneous. Technology
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
TdT
Testicular Neoplasms - genetics
Testicular Neoplasms - pathology
Testis - cytology
testis tumour
Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Summary:Apoptosis morphology (DNA condensation) and endonucleolytical DNA cleavage (TdT assay) were measured simultaneously on double fluorescence labelled cells employing confocal laser scanning and conventional immunofluorescence microscopy. In vitro experiments on irradiated HL‐60 cells revealed a high correspondence of non‐apoptotic (normal) cells without detectable DNA cleavage, versus apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies showing DNA cleavage. Experiments performed on histological slides of testis tumours reflected a heterogeneous picture: non‐apoptotic (normal) cells, apoptotic cells, and apoptotic bodies appeared either with or without detectable DNA cleavage. These data allowed the characterization and quantitation of the grade of disturbance/heterogeneity of the apoptosis programme in vivo. Furthermore, the measured apoptotic index (AI) based on apoptosis morphology was lower than the AI assessed by DNA cleavage, in contrast to published work. Taken together, these methods represent a new approach and might be suitable for improved correlation with clinical parameters. In addition, the data presented confirm frequently published doubts regarding the ability of the TdT assay to detect apoptosis as defined by morphological criteria in tumours. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0022-3417
1096-9896
DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1096-9896(199808)185:4<419::AID-PATH126>3.0.CO;2-B