Vermes I, Haanen C, Reutelingsperger C
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Medical Spectrum Twente, P.O. Box 50000, 7500 KA, Enschede, The Netherlands.
J Immunol Methods. 2000 Sep 21;243(1-2):167-90. doi: 10.1016/s0022-1759(00)00233-7.
The term apoptosis or programmed cell death defines a genetically encoded cell death program, which is morphologically and biochemically distinct from necrosis or accidental cell death. The characteristic morphological signs of apoptosis (cellular shrinkage, membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation and fragmentation) are the final results of a complex biochemical cascade of events which is an integral part of physiological homeostasis. Techniques designed to identify, quantitate and characterize apoptosis are numerous, but flow cytometry (FCM) remains the methodology of choice to study the apoptotic cascade in relation to cell type, trigger and time. This review outlines the main stages of the apoptotic cascade together with current FCM methods. All FCM apoptosis assays described have a solid experimental basis and have been used successfully in basic research on molecular and biochemical mechanisms of apoptosis. In various clinical settings the ability to follow the apoptotic process in patient samples may offer the rationale for optimal treatment schedules.
凋亡或程序性细胞死亡这一术语定义了一种由基因编码的细胞死亡程序，它在形态学和生物化学上与坏死或意外性细胞死亡不同。凋亡的特征性形态学标志（细胞皱缩、膜泡形成、核浓缩和碎片化）是一系列复杂生化事件级联反应的最终结果，而这一反应是生理稳态不可或缺的一部分。旨在识别、定量和表征凋亡的技术众多，但流式细胞术（FCM）仍是研究与细胞类型、触发因素和时间相关的凋亡级联反应的首选方法。本综述概述了凋亡级联反应的主要阶段以及当前的流式细胞术方法。所描述的所有流式细胞术凋亡检测方法都有坚实的实验基础，并已成功用于凋亡分子和生化机制的基础研究。在各种临床环境中，追踪患者样本中凋亡过程的能力可能为制定最佳治疗方案提供依据。
