CFSE dilution to study human T and NK cell proliferation in vitro

Lymphocytes proliferate in response to several stimuli. In many situations, a rapid lymphocyte expansion, or the identification of a slow dividing cell subpopulation may be of great interest. Thus, it is necessary to perform reliable assays to study and compare lymphocyte subsets proliferation. For this purpose, carboxifluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) dilution assay has been stablished as a very useful tool that provides cumulative information about cell proliferation. Unlike other techniques that measure a static parameter of a specific time-point, CFSE staining allows to distinguish between subsequent cell divisions. Here, we show a simple protocol to study human T and NK cell proliferation with CFSE dilution assay by flow cytometry.