[Flow cytometric dual-parameter analysis of human leukemic cells using monoclonal anti-BrdUrd antibody]

A more precise analysis of cell kinetics can be made the simultaneous flow cytometric measurement of cellular DNA content and amount of incorporated BrdUrd, using propidium iodide and a monoclonal antibody to BrdUrd. We applied this technique to the cell kinetic analysis of leukemic cells obtained from a 62-year-old woman with AML. A computer analysis of a DNA distribution histogram provided the percentage of cells in each phase of the cell cycle, i.e., G1: 73.3%, S: 19.6%, and G2M: 7.1%. In contrast, 12.7% of the total cell population incorporated BrdUrd, but more active DNA synthesizing cells comprised only 3%. Some fractions of cells that have DNA content corresponding to that of S phase cells incorporated little BrdUrd. Most of the S phase cells were in the early or late S phase, and their DNA synthesis rate was very low.