FW: Apoptosis and ModFit LT

From: Don Herbert - Verity Software House (verity@vsh.com)
Date: Fri Jul 23 1999 - 07:39:22 EST


Hello, Dr. Zunino,

You have identified the prime difficulty in trying to identify Apoptotic
events in a single-parameter histogram.  In large measure, Apoptotic events
are indistinguishable from debris using PI staining alone.  Thus, secondary
markers of Apoptosis such as Annexin V are employed for 2-parameter
differentiation of "true" Apoptosis.

ModFit LT uses the historical assumption of a Apoptotic events appearing as
a more-or-less Gaussian distribution sub-G0G1, which is of course in the
debris range also.  In the absence of a defined distribution over which the
Apop range can be placed, the Apop range "competes" with the debris range
for events.  This allows subtle differences in the placement of the Apop
range and the debris (E1) range to effect major changes in the relative
results.  Since attempts at gating out debris produce their own set of
assumptions and problems, assessing Apoptosis in single-parameter PI
distributions remains problematic for all DNA analysis software.

Please let me know if you may like a further discussion on this topic.

Best regards,

Mark

Mark E. Munson
Sales Manager
Verity Software House, Inc.
Phone: 207-729-6767
Fax: 207-729-5443
verity@vsh.com
http://www.vsh.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Zunino [mailto:szunino@biologie.uni-erlangen.de]
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 1999 8:04 AM
To: cyto-inbox
Subject:



I would like to get some information from anyone who is successfully using
the Modfit DNA Analysis program for analysis of DNA content, cell cycle,
and especially apoptotic populations.  We are having quite a bit of
difficulty getting useful information from this program regarding apoptotic
populations.  We are using mostly PI staining of nuclei for analysis.  We
are also using cell lines, not clinical samples, so there is limited
involvement of an aneuploid population.  The main trouble is setting the
markers so the data makes sense.  We either see an apoptotic population
under the G1 and S phases of the histogram or the apoptotic population is
labeled as debris.  We have no consistency in our data with regard to
apoptosis.  The manual is not helpful.  If anyone out there can help, it
sure would be appreciated.  Best regards, Susan Zunino

Dr. Susan J. Zunino
Lehrstuhl fur Genetik
University of Erlangen
Staudtstr. 5
91058 Erlangen
Germany
Tele.   49 9131 8528784
FAX     49 9131 8528526
e-mail:   szunino@biologie.uni-erlangen.de



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