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Anomalous changes in forward scatter of lymphocytes with loosely packed membranes
J M Scherer1, W Stillwell, L J Jenski
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana. jscherer@iupui.edu
Background:
Forward scatter (FSC) is generally associated with cell size and has been suggested as a way to differentiate apoptotic from viable cells. Among spleen cells cultured for 48 h, a population of cells (population B) was found to have decreased forward and increased side scatter relative to freshly purified cells (population A). Interestingly, population B was not present early in analysis; this report explores the change in FSC of population B.
Methods:
Using a Coulter (Hialeah, FL) Epics Elite ESP flow cytometer, changes in forward scatter and lipid packing of spleen cells were measured.
Results:
Over time, the FSC of unfixed cells in population B increased from that of the debris field, to reach a stable value by 30 sec (population A's FSC remained constant). When fixed, populations A and B exhibited constant FSC. Population B cells displayed altered lipid packing as reported by MC540, and the FSC changes were mimicked by Nonidet P-40 treatment of freshly purified spleen cells.
Conclusions:
Data emphasize the importance of delaying measurements on unfixed cells until FSC readings have stabilized, and suggest that flow cytometry may be a useful tool in studying lipid packing.