Simultaneously multi-parameter determination of hematonosis cell apoptosis by two-photon and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Flow cytometry (FCM), TdT-mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL), and DNA ladder are conventional methods to detect apoptosis of drug-treated cells. However, the assumption of cell number restricts their applications in clinics. In this paper, we report a cell-saving imaging method for quick identification of the hematonosis cell apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs. By the combination of two-photon and confocal microscopy, three main apoptosis parameters (the change of nuclear morphology, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, and increase of intracellular calcium) were recorded simultaneously for single As2O3-induced Molt-4 cells. The results are highly in accordance with those produced by classical flow cytometry. This work suggests that this new imaging method would be promising in the quick identification of hematonosis cell apoptosis. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.