Fluorescent double labeling of normal and malignant hematopoietic cells by monoclonal antibodies (FITC) and anthracycline cytostatic drug (Daunomycin): a cytometric technique for analysis of drug uptake in hematopoietic cell subpopulations.

A technique of simultaneous double labeling of normal and neoplastic hematopoietic cells with FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibodies directed to selectively expressed hematopoietic cell surface antigens (green fluorescence) and the anthracycline cytostatic drug (Daunomycin, red fluorescence) was described. Flow cytometric analysis of double labeled cells permitted anthracycline cell content determination in peripheral blood lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes from healthy donors, T- (MOLT-4), non-T, non-B (REH) and myelomonocytic (U-937) leukemic cell lines. After mixing peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy individuals with cultured leukemic cells labeled on a restrictively expressed hematopoietic cell differentiation antigen (CALLA-CD10-, MHC class II-DR-antigen, a myelomonocytic differentiation antigen) detected by corresponding monoclonal antibodies (DGH-10-1-A9,Bra30, BraC8), the described technique allowed separate measurements of anthracycline content in leukemic cells vs. peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors. Potential diagnostic aspects and research utilization of this technique are discussed.