USE OF FLOW-CYTOMETRY TECHNIQUES IN STUDYING MECHANISMS OF APOPTOSIS IN LEUKEMIC-CELLS

The use of flow cytometric techniques has significantly aided the rapi d advancement of our understanding of the process of apoptosis, Our la boratory is currently involved in investigating the ways in which cell s can be induced to die and some of the signals that may be involved, To this end, we are using flow cytometry to detect apoptosis in cell c ultures and to measure intracellular changes that occur during apoptos is, in particular, alterations in parameters such as mitochondrial fun ction, oxidative stress, and gene expression, In this review of recent and ongoing research in our laboratory, we outline our studies on mec hanisms of apoptosis by cytotoxic drugs, particularly in relation to t he involvement of oxidative stress, In addition, we are studying the i ncreased sensitivity to apoptosis seen in K652 cells that have been tr ansfected with the p53 gene. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.