PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Pratip K Chattopadhyay

Publications and source records attributed to Pratip K Chattopadhyay.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Quantum dot semiconductor nanocrystals for immunophenotyping by polychromatic flow cytometry.

Immune responses arise from a wide variety of cells expressing unique combinations of multiple cell-surface proteins. Detailed characterization is hampered, however, by limitations in available probes and instrumentation. Here, we use the unique spectral properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) to extend the capabilities of polychromatic flow cytometry to resolve 17 fluorescence emissions. We show the need for this power by analyzing, in detail, the phenotype of multiple antigen-specific T-cell populations, revealing variations within complex phenotypic patterns that would otherwise remain obscure. For example, T cells specific for distinct epitopes from one pathogen, and even those specific for the same epitope, can have markedly different phenotypes. The technology we describe, encompassing the detection of eight quantum dots in conjunction with conventional fluorophores, should expand the horizons of flow cytometry, as well as our ability to characterize the intricacies of both adaptive and innate cellular immune responses.

CD3 Complex↗

Amine reactive dyes: an effective tool to discriminate live and dead cells in polychromatic flow cytometry.

Membrane-damaged cells caused by either mechanical trauma or through normal biological processes can produce artifacts in immunophenotyping analysis by flow cytometry. Dead cells can nonspecifically bind monoclonal antibody conjugates, potentially leading to erroneous conclusions, particularly when cell frequencies are low. To date, DNA intercalating dyes (Ethidium monoazaide (EMA), Propidium Iodide, 7AAD, etc.) or Annexin V have been commonly used to exclude dead cells; however, each suffer from technical problems. The first issue with such dyes is the dependence on a consistent dead cell source for fluorescence compensation. Another major issue is the stability of the staining; except for EMA, fixation and permeablization used for intracellular staining procedures can cause loss of fluorescence. EMA requires a UV exposure to covalently bond to DNA; while this dye is effective and is not affected by intracellular treatments it is weakly fluorescent. Here we report on the optimization of a new class of viability dyes, the amine reactive viability dyes (ViD) as a dead cell exclusion marker. The inclusion of ViD into the staining panel was found to be simple, reproducible and can have a significant benefit on the accuracy of identifying appropriate cell populations. We show the fluorescence of cells stained with these dyes correlates with traditional dead cell discriminating markers, even after fixation and permeabilization. Amine reactive viability dyes are a powerful tool for fluorescence immunophenotyping experiments.

Amines↗

Longitudinal assessment of de novo T cell production in relation to HIV-associated T cell homeostasis failure.

Loss of circulating CD4+ T cells in HIV-1 disease is balanced by CD8+ lymphocytosis to maintain normal CD3+ T cell counts [blind T cell homeostasis (TCH)]. However, for unknown reasons TCH generally fails 1.5-2.5 years before clinically defined AIDS. We investigated whether TCH failure was associated with changes in thymic production of T cells. Using specimens stored prospectively in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), we measured expression of signal-joint T cell receptor excision circles (sjTRECs), a marker for thymic T cell production, and the fraction of proliferating naive and memory T cells during a 6-8 year period bracketing TCH failure. Segmented regression modeling assessed (1) rates of change in TREC levels before and after TCH failure, and (2) whether these were affected by cellular proliferation, which may dilute sjTREC levels. TCH failure was associated with a large decline in sjTREC (median 1109-fold, p = 0.028); the rate of this decline was only slightly affected when increased proliferation of naive T cells or other peripheral lymphocytes was taken into account. Preferential loss of naive CD4+ T cells was also noted before TCH failure, as has been seen in other studies. These results suggest that deficits in de novo T cell production, either through the decline of thymic function or the destruction of naive T cells, are likely to play an important role in TCH failure and progression of HIV-1 disease.

CD3 Complex↗

A live-cell assay to detect antigen-specific CD4+ T cells with diverse cytokine profiles.

Recently activated, but not resting, CD4(+) T cells express CD154, providing costimulatory signals to B cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Therefore, de novo CD154 expression after stimulation identifies antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells. Previous assays were limited by the transient nature of surface CD154 expression; we overcame this by including fluorescently conjugated CD154-specific antibody during stimulation. Our assay is fully compatible with intracellular cytokine staining, and can be used for stimulations as long as 24 h. Notably, it is nonlethal, providing a means to purify viable antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells for further analysis. Using this assay, we found that stimulated cells expressing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-2 or interferon (IFN)-gamma were predominantly CD154(+). Furthermore, some cells expressing none of these cytokines also expressed CD154, suggesting that CD154 marks cells with other effector functions. For vaccine- or pathogen-specific responses, we found substantial heterogeneity in expression of CD154 and cytokines, suggesting previously unrecognized diversity in abilities of responding cells to stimulate APCs through CD40.

CD4 Antigens↗