14-color flow cytometry panel

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Here we present a 14-color immunophenotyping panel used to characterize human T lymphocytes. This analysis takes advantage of the diverse collection of fluorescent antibodies available, including those labeled with Invitrogen eBioscience Super Bright polymer dyes, a suite of exceptionally bright fluorophores excited by the violet laser. Optimized for use in flow cytometry, the Super Bright dyes allow for expanded use of violet laser excitation, promote streamlined multicolor panel design, and enable detection of low-abundance cell targets.

Recently expanded to include 6 fluorescence detectors for the violet laser (405 nm), the Invitrogen Attune NxT Flow Cytometer is capable of detecting multiple Super Bright dyes in a single immunophenotyping panel, greatly expanding the number of fluorescent parameters that can be simultaneously measured. The unique acoustic-assisted hydrodynamic focusing technology of the Attune NxT cytometer enables rapid, accurate, and sensitive detection at high flow rates without compromising data quality, as demonstrated with this 14-color data set (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Gating strategy for the 14-color T lymphocyte immunophenotyping panel using the Attune NxT V6 Flow Cytometer. A region is placed around live peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as identified by the Invitrogen LIVE/DEAD Fixable Near-IR Dead Cell Stain (A). Live cells are analyzed through sequential singlet gating (B, C), and the resulting CD3+ population (D) is further delineated by gating on CD4+ and CD8+ populations (E). The CD4+ population is used to gate on CD25 vs. CD127 (F), CD45RA vs. CD196 (G), and CD278, CD134, CD279, and CD223 populations (data not shown) (J). The CD45RACD196 population from (G) is gated on CD183 vs. CD194 (H). The CD45RACD196+ population from (G) is gated on CD183 vs. CD194 (I). The CD8+ population from (E) is used for gating CD278, CD134, CD279, and CD223 populations (data not shown) (K). The entire gating strategy is displayed in hierarchical format using the Invitrogen Attune NxT V6 v2.6 software for easy visualization (L).

Summary of methods and panel development

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were prepared from whole blood using density gradient separation, and then stimulated by treating with 5 μg/mL concanavalin A for 3 days. Unstimulated cells were also tested, and fluorescence-minus-one (FMO) controls were prepared for marker boundary placement [1]. Cell samples were labeled with the optimal titer for each antibody conjugate, and single-color compensation controls were prepared using the Invitrogen AbC Total Antibody Compensation Kit for antibody conjugate compensation and Invitrogen ArC Amine-Reactive Compensation Bead Kit for compensation of the Invitrogen LIVE/DEAD Fixable Dead Cell Stain. Table 1 shows the specifications for the 14-color T cell immunophenotyping panel, including the Attune NxT V6 instrument configuration and the panel reagents. The T cell phenotypic markers used in this panel identify differentiation profiles, activation, exhaustion status, and co-stimulatory activity. Instead of using conventional intracellular markers for cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ) or transcription master regulators (e.g., T-bet), only surface markers were selected for this panel so that fixation and permeabilization steps were not required. This streamlined and shortened the sample preparation process, while also reducing cell loss due to multiple wash steps. For example, to detect T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, and Th17 subpopulations, we used the surface markers CD45RA, CD196 (CCR6), CD183 (CXCR3), and CD194 (CCR4) [2]. Likewise, T regulatory (Treg) cells, often detected with the surface marker CD25 and the intracellular marker FoxP3, were instead identified using only surface markers CD25 and CD127 [3,4]. Upon activation or in diseases such as hematologic malignancies, T cells up-regulate expression of activation markers such as CD25, CD134 (OX40), and CD278 (ICOS, inducible co-stimulator). Expression of CD279 (PD-1), an immune checkpoint receptor, is used to identify T cells as exhausted or quiescent. Another immune checkpoint receptor, CD223 (LAG-3), negatively regulates cellular proliferation, activation, and homeostasis of T cells, and plays a role in Treg suppressive activity [5]. Table 2 lists the T cell subpopulations and corresponding immunophenotypes identified by this panel.

Table 1. Specifications for the 14-color T cell immunophenotyping panel, including the Attune NxT V6 instrument configuration and the panel reagents (antibody target, clone, and fluorophore).

LaserAttune NxT V6 detectorBandpass filter (nm)TargetCloneFluorophoreCat. No.
Blue 488 nmBL1530/30CD134 (OX40)ACT-35FITC11-1347-42
BL2695/40CD45RAHI100PerCP-Cy®5.545-0458-42
Red 637 nmRL1670/14CD183 (CXCR3)CEW33DeFluor 66050-1839-42
RL2720/30CD8RPA-T8Alexa Fluor 70056-0088-42
RL3780/60ViabilityNALIVE/DEAD Fixable Near-IRL34976
Violet 405 nmVL1450/40CD196 (CCR6)R6H1Super Bright 43662-1969-41
VL2525/50CD127A019D5Brilliant Violet 510NA
VL3610/20CD4SK3Super Bright 60063-0047-42
VL4660/20CD3OKT3Super Bright 64564-0037-42
VL5710/50CD25BC96Super Bright 70267-0259-42
VL6780/60CD279 (PD-1)EH12.1Brilliant Violet 786NA
Yellow 561 nmYL1585/22CD278 (ICOS)ISA-3PE12-9948-42
YL2620/15CD223 (LAG-3)3DS223HPE-eFluor 61061-2239-42
YL3780/60CD194 (CCR4)1G1PE-Cy®7NA

Table 2. Summary of results from the 14-color T cell immunophenotyping panel.

ImmunophenotypeT cell subpopulation *Percent (%) positive cells after 3-day stimulation with control or concanavalin A
Unstimulated PBMCsStimulated PBMCs
CD3+CD4+CD45RACD196CD183+CD194Th1 cells16.7410.88
CD3+CD4+CD45RACD196CD183CD194+Th2 cells3.796.43
CD3+CD4+CD45RACD196+CD183CD194+Th17 cells18.7928.21
CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127Treg cells0.9251.63
CD3+CD4+CD223+LAG-3+ exhausted Th cells0.7939.84
CD3+CD8+CD223+LAG-3+ exhausted Tc cells0.1737.30
CD3+CD4+CD134+OX40+ activated Th cells1.0821.26
CD3+CD8+CD134+OX40+ activated Tc cells0.2311.16
CD3+CD4+CD278+ICOS+ activated Th cells0.2718.65
CD3+CD8+CD278+ICOS+ activated Tc cells0.7614.59
CD3+CD4+CD279+PD-1+ exhausted/quiescent Th cells1.3616.12
CD3+CD8+CD279+PD-1+ exhausted/quiescent Tc cells1.2413.17
* Th = T helper cells. Treg = T regulatory cells. Tc = T cytotoxic cells.

Data acquisition and analysis

Samples were acquired on the recently introduced 4-laser Attune NxT V6 Flow Cytometer, which has the ability to detect 6 violet laser–excited fluorophores, with a flow rate of 200 μL/minute. Data were analyzed using Attune NxT v2.6 software. Corrections for spectral overlap were performed using standard instrument autocompensation procedures. The results show well-characterized cell populations, with the expected differences between unstimulated and stimulated PBMCs ex vivo (Table 2).

Not for resale. Super Bright Polymer Dyes are sold under license from Becton, Dickinson and Company.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.