CYTO 2010—Overview of the XXV ISAC Congress Proceedings Issue of Cytometry Part A

Abstract

THIS issue of Cytometry Part A presents the second occasion on which a call has been issued to encourage authors to submit their best work to the Journal for publication in a special Congress Proceedings Issue of Cytometry. The incentive for submission was that accepted papers would be guaranteed an oral presentation at the XXV ISAC Congress in Seattle-CYTO 2010. The manuscripts submitted for the call were reviewed via the normal Cytometry Part A review process and then by a second level of review by the Congress Organizing Committee. The outcome of this strict peer-review process was that nine papers were accepted for the Proceedings Issue of Cytometry Part A. The research articles provide excellent examples of some of the latest trends in the field of cytometry and we highlight them here in this editorial review. The topics of the accepted papers range from application of 12-color flow cytometry through characterization of new probes and investigation of cytoskeleton elements to analysis of nuclear structure from histopathology images.Modern polychromatic flow cytometry can provide higher resolution approaches for the dissection and identification of cell subpopulations (1,2). In this issue, the paper by Autissier et al. (page 410) describes how 12-color flow cytometry can be used for studying the phenotypes of lymphocyte, monocyte, and dendritic cell subsets. The authors developed a single flow cytometry panel that allows for simultaneous detection of the lymphocyte and monocyte cell populations and all known DC subsets. Studying these crucial subpopulations of the immune system in one single panel may give a broader view of the immune response during HIV infection and can be used for monitoring AIDS pathogenesis.Polychromatic cytometry has become increasingly important in slide-based applications with the drive to increase the number of measurable fluorochromes for multiparametric analysis. New fluorochromes have been introduced where the fluorescent dyes possess different optical characteristics including spectral range, lifetime signatures, and improved photostability (3-5). The special feature of slide-based cytometry is that analyzed fields can be revisited, providing a basis for the application of sequential photobleaching of fluorochromes next to very photostable dyes to increase the number of parameters captured. In this issue, Wessels et al. (page 420) analyzed the newly available NorthernLights secondary antibodies for use in slide-based cytometry and microscopy. They pointed out that since the NorthernLights are bright, resistant to photobleaching, stable in alcohols and xylene, these dyes are promising candidates for use with most laser-and HBO/ XBA-based fluorescence microscopy techniques. It is anticipated that combination of NorthernLights with laser scanning cytometry could provide a better methodology for analysis of tumor dissemination to bone marrow and lymph node (6).The other group of fluorescent probes aims to stain cell organelles with high specificity. Development of fluorescent, org...