Biopharma Insights CFSE covalently labels long-lived intracellular molecules with the fluorescent dye, carboxyfluorescein. As such, when a CFSE-labeled cell divides, its progeny have half the amount of fluorescence, which can thereby be used to assess cell division. This article describes the procedures typically used for labeling mouse lymphocytes with CFSE.
Total time
~2–3 hours per sample batch (including incubation and wash steps)
Model organism
Mouse lymphocytes
Steps
1
Label lymphocytes with CFSE dye
Incubate isolated mouse lymphocytes with carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) to covalently label long-lived intracellular molecules with fluorescent carboxyfluorescein.
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2
Apply CFSE method in vitro and in vivo
Employ the labeled lymphocytes to assess cell proliferation through fluorescence dilution, either in cell culture (in vitro) or within living animals (in vivo).
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