Immunoassay for single-stranded DNA in apoptotic cells.

The apoptosis assay described in this chapter is based on the selective denaturation of DNA in condensed chromatin of apoptotic cells and the detection of denatured DNA with a monoclonal antibody highly specific to single-stranded DNA. Optimal results are obtained by the heating at a relatively low temperature in the presence of formamide. The assay detects apoptotic cells but not necrotic cells or cells with DNA breaks in the absence of apoptosis. The sensitivity of the assay reflects the detection of early and late apoptosis. Apoptotic cells are detected in the sections of frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues by immunohistochemistry and in the cell suspensions by flow cytometry or fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis enzyme-linked immunoassay based on DNA denaturation by formamide in microtiter plates and one-step immunostaining is applied for high-throughput screening of drugs. The enzyme-linked immunoassay has the ability to distinguish anticancer drugs from toxic chemicals, to predict selective toxicity to cancer cells, and to detect drug synergism.