FLOW CYTOMETRIC DETECTION OF SOME ACTIVATION AND PROLIFERATION MARKERS IN HUMAN HEMATOPOIETIC-CELL LINES

Simultaneous surface marker/DNA, cytoplasmic/DNA or nuclear/DNA staini ng was used to study proliferation of hematopoietic cell lines (MOLT4, BJAB, P3HR1). Different fixation/permeabilization methods (paraformal dehyde with metanol or Tween 20 or saponin, buffered formaldehyde-acet one) were used providing optimal results of the double stainings. Ther e was a significant increase of S phase and proliferation index (PI) o f CD71+ and Ki67+ MOLT4 cells in comparison with their negative counte rparts. This indicates their close connection with proliferation. Unli ke that, the correlation between the expression of CD38 and S phase or PI was not significant either in MOLT4 or in P3HR1 cells. For cytopla smic markers CD3 (in MOLT4 cells) and CD22 (in BJAB cells) statistical ly significant (cCD3) and not significant (cCD22) correlation was demo nstrated between their expression and S phase or PI. Molecular equival ents of soluble fluorescein values for CD71 were always higher than fo r CD38. The density of these cell surface markers in addition to the p ercentage of their expression is of considerable significance for thei r evaluation as activation or proliferation markers.