OBJECTIVETo study the sensitivity and specificity of different staining methods to monitor apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in adherent cells.

METHODSSensitivity and specificity of several common methods for apoptosis determination were evaluated (Apo2.7-expression, Annexin V-binding, TUNEL-reaction, poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase-(PARP) cleavage and single-stranded-DNA (ssDNA) staining). Apoptosis was induced by oxidative stress generated by hydrogen peroxide in 3 cultured cells types growing as adherent monolayer (MiaPaCa-2, Hep-G2 and human skin fibroblasts), necrosis was induced by depletion of cellular ATP using sodium azide. Cells positively stained by the respective apoptosis assay were quantified and alterations of cell morphology were monitored by fluorescence microscopy. The date was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and significance test of correlation coefficient.

RESULTSOne hour after apoptosis induction significant cell fractions were positively stained for ssDNA (33% with MiaPaCa-2 cells, 35% with Hep-G2 cells, 56% with human skin fibroblasts). PARP-cleavage was less sensitive compared to the ssDNA-staining. Apo2.7-expression, Annexin V-binding and TUNEL-reaction were not applicable to detect early apoptosis induced by oxidative stress (below 2 hours), but were efficiently monitoring late apoptosis. Specificity of ssDNA-staining was complete with each cell type even 4 hs after induction of necrosis by the highest sodium azide concentration. In contrast, the same experimental conditions resulted in 50% - 90% positively stained necrotic cells by using Apo2.7-expression, TUNEL-reaction or Annexin V-binding. Surprisingly, specificity of PARP-cleavage was highly depending on the respective cell type.

CONCLUSIONSOur study prove that among the five methods investigated only ssDNA-staining allowed to completely differentiate apoptosis from necrosis, and is thus suitable to reliably detect early as well as late apoptosis. Therefore, the ssDNA-staining may be used as reference method to clearly identify apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in adherent cells. The TUNEL-reaction, annexin-V-binding and Apo-2.7-expression may be used to quantify the number of apoptotic and necrotic cells especially at later stages but without discrimination of apoptosis and primary or secondary necrosis.

Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cell Adhesion ; physiology ; Cytological Techniques ; DNA, Single-Stranded ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanisms of the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on human primary macrophage functions. Macrophage phagocytosis was analyzed using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled Escherichia coli (E.Coli); focal complex and extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) were observed by fluorescence microscopy; the secretion of metalloproteinases (MMPs) was examined by gelatin zymography, and the expressions of EMMPRIN and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) were detected by Western blot. The results indicated that LIPUS accelerated macrophages to phagocytose E.Coli (29.81+/-0.36 vs 18.00+/-0.78), promoted the protein expressions of EMMPRIN and MMPs, increased the level of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and induced the phosphorylation of ERKs. Furthermore, the above functions were only found in adherent macrophages, and were inhibited or decreased by mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MAPK kinase, MEK) inhibitor PD98059 and RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp peptide), one of main integrin recognition sequences. It is concluded that the effect of LIPUS on macrophages depends on cell adhesion, and relates to integrin-MEK-ERK pathway.
Basigin ; metabolism ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophages ; cytology ; immunology ; radiation effects ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Phagocytosis ; radiation effects ; Phosphorylation ; Ultrasonics