A Carrier Strategy for Mass Cytometry Analysis of Small Numbers of Cells

Methods Mol Biol. 2020:2111:21-33. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0266-9_2.

Abstract

The recent launch of mass cytometry or cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) has revolutionized flow cytometry. Similar to fluorescence flow cytometry, a key challenge for CyTOF is to analyze samples of limited amount or very rare cell populations under various experimental settings. Here we describe a carrier strategy that significantly reduces the required sample amount without losing analytical resolution. We were able to detect as few as 5 × 104 human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using this method. This simple method thus enables the maximal usage of valuable clinical samples.

Keywords: Carrier; EL4; Mass cytometry (CyTOF); PBMCs; Small number of cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / chemistry
  • Antibodies / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Flow Cytometry / instrumentation*
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology*
  • Metals, Heavy / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Staining and Labeling

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Metals, Heavy