Skip to main content

Detecting Hematopoietic Stem Cell Proliferation Using BrdU Incorporation

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Cellular Quiescence

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1686))

Abstract

Cellular quiescence is a key component of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) homeostasis; therefore, a reliable method to measure HSC cell division is critical in many studies. However, measuring the proliferation rate of largely quiescent and rare populations of cells can be challenging. Bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into replicating DNA is a commonly used and highly reproducible method to detect cell division history. Here, we describe a protocol for BrdU incorporation analysis in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that can provide a sensitive measure of cell division even in rare cell populations. In combination with flow cytometry, this method can be generalized to analyze other cell populations and other tissues as identified by cell surface markers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Wiepz GJ, Edwin F, Patel T, Bertics PJ (2006) Methods for determining the proliferation of cells in response to EGFR ligands. Methods Mol Biol 327:179–187. doi:10.1385/1-59745-012-X:179

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hall PA, Levison DA (1990) Review: assessment of cell proliferation in histological material. J Clin Pathol 43(3):184–192

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Yu CC, Woods AL, Levison DA (1992) The assessment of cellular proliferation by immunohistochemistry: a review of currently available methods and their applications. Histochem J 24(3):121–131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Oka S, Uramoto H, Shimokawa H, Iwanami T, Tanaka F (2011) The expression of Ki-67, but not proliferating cell nuclear antigen, predicts poor disease free survival in patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung. Anticancer Res 31(12):4277–4282

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Li LT, Jiang G, Chen Q, Zheng JN (2015) Ki67 is a promising molecular target in the diagnosis of cancer (review). Mol Med Rep 11(3):1566–1572. doi:10.3892/mmr.2014.2914

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bologna-Molina R, Mosqueda-Taylor A, Molina-Frechero N, Mori-Estevez AD, Sánchez-Acuña G (2013) Comparison of the value of PCNA and Ki-67 as markers of cell proliferation in ameloblastic tumors. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal 18(2):e174–e179

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Szelachowska J, Dziegiel P, Jelen-Krzeszewska J, Jelen M, Matkowski R, Pomiecko A, Spytkowska B, Jagas M, Gisterek I, Kornafel J (2006) Mcm-2 protein expression predicts prognosis better than Ki-67 antigen in oral cavity squamocellular carcinoma. Anticancer Res 26(3B):2473–2478

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Reid MD, Bagci P, Ohike N, Saka B, Erbarut Seven I, Dursun N, Balci S, Gucer H, Jang KT, Tajiri T, Basturk O, Kong SY, Goodman M, Akkas G, Adsay V (2015) Calculation of the Ki67 index in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: a comparative analysis of four counting methodologies. Mod Pathol 28(5):686–694. doi:10.1038/modpathol.2014.156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Vega-Avila E, Pugsley MK (2011) An overview of colorimetric assay methods used to assess survival or proliferation of mammalian cells. Proc West Pharmacol Soc 54:10–14

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Mosmann T (1983) Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays. J Immunol Methods 65(1–2):55–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Roehm NW, Rodgers GH, Hatfield SM, Glasebrook AL (1991) An improved colorimetric assay for cell proliferation and viability utilizing the tetrazolium salt XTT. J Immunol Methods 142(2):257–265

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Riss TL, Moravec RA, Niles AL, Duellman S, Benink HA, Worzella TJ, Minor L (2016) Cell viability assays. doi:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144065/

  13. Quah BJ, Parish CR (2012) New and improved methods for measuring lymphocyte proliferation in vitro and in vivo using CFSE-like fluorescent dyes. J Immunol Methods 379(1–2):1–14. doi:10.1016/j.jim.2012.02.012

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Quah BJ, Parish CR (2010) The use of carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) to monitor lymphocyte proliferation. J Vis Exp 44:2259. doi:10.3791/2259

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lyons AB (2000) Analysing cell division in vivo and in vitro using flow cytometric measurement of CFSE dye dilution. J Immunol Methods 243(1–2):147–154

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lyons AB, Parish CR (1994) Determination of lymphocyte division by flow cytometry. J Immunol Methods 171(1):131–137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Miltenburger HG, Sachse G, Schliermann M (1987) S-phase cell detection with a monoclonal antibody. Dev Biol Stand 66:91–99

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Cavanagh BL, Walker T, Norazit A, Meedeniya AC (2011) Thymidine analogues for tracking DNA synthesis. Molecules 16(9):7980–7993. doi:10.3390/molecules16097980

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Zeng C, Pan F, Jones LA, Lim MM, Griffin EA, Sheline YI, Mintun MA, Holtzman DM, Mach RH (2010) Evaluation of 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine staining as a sensitive and reliable method for studying cell proliferation in the adult nervous system. Brain Res 1319:21–32. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2009.12.092

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Moran R, Darzynkiewicz Z, Staiano-Coico L, Melamed MR (1985) Detection of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation by monoclonal antibodies: role of the DNA denaturation step. J Histochem Cytochem 33(8):821–827

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Cappella P, Gasparri F, Pulici M, Moll J (2015) Cell proliferation method: click chemistry based on BrdU coupling for multiplex antibody staining. Curr Protoc Cytom 72:7.34.31–7.34.17. doi:10.1002/0471142956.cy0734s72

    Google Scholar 

  22. Breunig JJ, Arellano JI, Macklis JD, Rakic P (2007) Everything that glitters isn't gold: a critical review of postnatal neural precursor analyses. Cell Stem Cell 1(6):612–627. doi:10.1016/j.stem.2007.11.008

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Anda S, Boye E, Grallert B (2014) Cell-cycle analyses using thymidine analogues in fission yeast. PLoS One 9(2):e88629. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088629

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Gratzner HG, Leif RC (1981) An immunofluorescence method for monitoring DNA synthesis by flow cytometry. Cytometry 1(6):385–393. doi:10.1002/cyto.990010606

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lacombe F, Belloc F, Bernard P, Boisseau MR (1988) Evaluation of four methods of DNA distribution data analysis based on bromodeoxyuridine/DNA bivariate data. Cytometry 9(3):245–253. doi:10.1002/cyto.990090310

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Houck DW, Loken MR (1985) Simultaneous analysis of cell surface antigens, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and DNA content. Cytometry 6(6):531–538. doi:10.1002/cyto.990060607

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Holm M, Thomsen M, Høyer M, Hokland P (1998) Optimization of a flow cytometric method for the simultaneous measurement of cell surface antigen, DNA content, and in vitro BrdUrd incorporation into normal and malignant hematopoietic cells. Cytometry 32(1):28–36

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ergen AV, Jeong M, Lin KK, Challen GA, Goodell MA (2013) Isolation and characterization of mouse side population cells. Methods Mol Biol 946:151–162. doi:10.1007/978-1-62703-128-8_10

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Reome JB, Johnston DS, Helmich BK, Morgan TM, Dutton-Swain N, Dutton RW (2000) The effects of prolonged administration of 5-bromodeoxyuridine on cells of the immune system. J Immunol 165(8):4226–4230

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Rocha B, Penit C, Baron C, Vasseur F, Dautigny N, Freitas AA (1990) Accumulation of bromodeoxyuridine-labeled cells in central and peripheral lymphoid organs: minimal estimates of production and turnover rates of mature lymphocytes. Eur J Immunol 20(8):1697–1708. doi:10.1002/eji.1830200812

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kent DG, Dykstra BJ, Eaves CJ (2016) Isolation and assessment of single long-term reconstituting hematopoietic stem cells from adult mouse bone marrow. Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol 38:2A.4.1–2A.4.24. doi:10.1002/cpsc.10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Rossi L, Challen GA, Sirin O, Lin KK, Goodell MA (2011) Hematopoietic stem cell characterization and isolation. Methods Mol Biol 750:47–59. doi:10.1007/978-1-61779-145-1_3

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Katie A. Matatall, Ching-Chieh Shen, Grant A. Challen, Katherine Y. King, (2014) Type II Interferon Promotes Differentiation of Myeloid-Biased Hematopoietic Stem Cells. STEM CELLS 32(11):3023–3030

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The work summarized here was supported by grants from the NIDDK DK060445 (KAM) and the NHLBI K08HL098898, the Department of Defense IDEA award in bone marrow failure research (10505346), the Caroline Wiess Law Foundation for Molecular Medicine, the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation Liviya Anderson Award, and a March of Dimes Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Award (KYK).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katherine Y. King .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Science+Business Media LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Matatall, K.A., Kadmon, C.S., King, K.Y. (2018). Detecting Hematopoietic Stem Cell Proliferation Using BrdU Incorporation. In: Lacorazza, H. (eds) Cellular Quiescence. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1686. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7371-2_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7371-2_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7370-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7371-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics