Increased cell surface exposure of phosphatidylserine on propidium iodide negative thymocytes undergoing death by necrosis

Paul Waring*, Damaris Lambert, Allan Sjaarda, Alanna Hurne, Joanne Beaver

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    48 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on propidium iodide negative cells using FITC labelled annexin-V has been used to quantify apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Detection of PS with in cells undergoing necrosis is also possible if labelled annexin-V specific for PS enters the cell following early membrane damage. Necrotic or late apoptotic cells can be excluded from flow cytometric analysis using propidium iodide which enters and stains cells with compromised membrane integrity. Here we show that thymocytes undergoing death exclusively by necrosis show early exposure of PS prior to loss of membrane integrity. This early exposure of PS occurs in cells treated with agents which both raise intracellular calcium levels and are also capable of interacting with protein thiol groups. We also demonstrate that PS exposure in thymocytes induced to undergo apoptosis by three different agents does not correlate with calcium rises but correlates with and precedes DNA fragmentation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)624-637
    Number of pages14
    JournalCell Death and Differentiation
    Volume6
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1999

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Increased cell surface exposure of phosphatidylserine on propidium iodide negative thymocytes undergoing death by necrosis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this