Validation of an eight parameter immunophenotyping panel in adult canines for assessment of immunotoxicity

Brandon M Zeigler1, Yvonne Boyle-Holmes, Deanna Falzone

  • 1Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, MPI Research, 54943 North Main Street, Mattawan, MI 49009, USA. Brandon.Zeigler@mpiresearch.com

Insights

A new six-color flow cytometry method precisely analyzes canine leukocyte populations for immunotoxicity testing. This validated assay improves efficiency and allows for sample storage without impacting results in pre-clinical toxicology studies.

Area of Science:

  • Immunotoxicology
  • Pre-clinical Toxicology
  • Flow Cytometry

Background:

  • Peripheral blood leukocyte analysis is crucial for assessing immunotoxicity in pre-clinical toxicology studies.
  • Current methods may lack the precision or efficiency required for comprehensive assessment.
  • Standardized and validated assays are needed for reliable immunotoxicity evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate a single, six-color flow cytometry panel for enumerating canine peripheral blood leukocyte populations.
  • To assess the assay's precision, including intra-assay and inter-assay variance.
  • To determine the stability of samples before and after fixation for flow cytometric analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a single, six-color flow cytometry panel to simultaneously enumerate absolute cell counts and relative percentages of leukocytes.
  • Performed Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) validation to assess intra- and inter-assay variance and inter-instrument variance.
  • Evaluated pre- and post-fixation stability of target leukocyte populations.

Main Results:

  • All assay validation parameters met acceptance criteria, with coefficient of variation (CV) values below 25%.
  • Intra- and inter-assay data confirmed acceptable precision for the single-panel method.
  • Stability assessments showed no statistically significant difference between immediately processed samples and stored whole blood or processed samples.

Conclusions:

  • The validated six-color flow cytometry assay provides a precise and efficient tool for canine immunotoxicity assessment.
  • The assay's robustness allows for flexibility in sample handling and storage, enhancing workflow efficiency.
  • This method will aid researchers in evaluating the immunotoxic effects of test articles during pre-clinical drug development.