&#160;This work was supported by the grants to J.H. from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81800207). The assistance of Beckman Coulter, Inc. in providing support for flow cytometry and parameter calibration is greatly appreciated.&#160;We thank Jiao Chen of the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of&#160; Stomatology, Sichuan University, and Yu Qi of Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, for their assistance in&#160;flow cytometry data acquisition.

The experiments in this study utilized a total of 10 C57BL/6 mice aged between 8 and 12 weeks. Experimental operations were conducted in accordance with a protocol that was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Sichuan University (#201609309). Experimental materials and the parameters of flow cytometry used in this article are listed in the Table of Materials.
1. Isolation and collection of mouse bone marrow cells
<ol>
	<li>Euthanize...

Alternative Laser Excitation Method for Easy Side Population Cell Detection

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Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Side+population+in+human+lung+cancer+cell+lines+and+tumors+is+enriched+with+stem-like+cancer+cells.">Side population in human lung cancer cell lines and tumors is enriched with stem-like cancer cells.</a> Cancer Res. 67 (10), 4827-4833 (2007).</li><li>Chiba, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Side+population+purified+from+hepatocellular+carcinoma+cells+harbors+cancer+stem+cell-like+properties.">Side population purified from hepatocellular carcinoma cells harbors cancer stem cell-like properties.</a> Hepatology. 44 (1), 240-251 (2006).</li><li>Haraguchi, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+a+side+population+of+cancer+cells+from+human+gastrointestinal+system.">Characterization of a side population of cancer cells from human gastrointestinal system.</a> Stem Cells. 24 (3), 506-513 (2006).</li><li>Zhou, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Activation+of+the+PTEN/mTOR/STAT3+pathway+in+breast+cancer+stem-like+cells+is+required+for+viability+and+maintenance.">Activation of the PTEN/mTOR/STAT3 pathway in breast cancer stem-like cells is required for viability and maintenance.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104 (41), 16158-16163 (2007).</li><li>Ota, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ADAM23+is+downregulated+in+side+population+and+suppresses+lung+metastasis+of+lung+carcinoma+cells.">ADAM23 is downregulated in side population and suppresses lung metastasis of lung carcinoma cells.</a> Cancer Sci. 107 (4), 433-443 (2016).</li><li>Wang, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=ALCAM+regulates+multiple+myeloma+chemoresistant+side+population.">ALCAM regulates multiple myeloma chemoresistant side population.</a> Cell Death Dis. 13 (2), 136 (2022).</li><li>Wang, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Homoharringtonine+synergizes+with+quizartinib+in+FLT3-ITD+acute+myeloid+leukemia+by+targeting+FLT3-AKT-c-Myc+pathway.">Homoharringtonine synergizes with quizartinib in FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia by targeting FLT3-AKT-c-Myc pathway.</a> Biochem Pharmacol. 188, 114538 (2021).</li><li>Dong, X. L., Wei, Y. Y., Xu, T., Tan, X. Y., Li, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+side+population+in+solid+tumor+cell+lines.">Analysis of side population in solid tumor cell lines.</a> J Vis Exp. (168), e60658 (2021).</li><li>Bhowmick, D., Sheridan, R. T. C., Bushnell, T. P., Spalding, K. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Practical+guidelines+for+optimization+and+characterization+of+the+Beckman+Coulter+CytoFLEX+platform.">Practical guidelines for optimization and characterization of the Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX platform.</a> Cytom Part A. 97 (8), 800-810 (2020).</li></ol>

We used the protocol described to conduct three experiments, with each trial involving 3-4 mice, resulting in a total of 10 mice. The proportion of SP cells ranged from 0.05% to 0.76%. It is important to note that individual variations were observed among the mice. We utilized four flow cytometers to analyze the Hoechst samples. It is observed that the excitation of Hoechst dye by a 20 mW 355 nm laser on the new version of flow cytometry is equivalent to that of a 100 mW 355 nm laser on old-fashioned flow cytometry. This...

The side population (SP) cells are identified through Hoechst 33342 staining and analyzed using flow cytometry (FCM). The SP cells are characterized by the pumping of the fluorescent DNA dye out of the cells through their ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter1,2. The method was originally established for isolating murine bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)1. The bone marrow SP cells were enriched with a population of HSCs characterized by &#160;CD117+Sca-1+Lin-Thy1low&#160;expression3,4. Thereafter, the method was widely used to isolate and enrich stem cells from other tissues, including cardiac muscle5, liver6, lung7, kidney8, and forebrain9. In particular, the method has been applied to isolate cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the past decade. CSCs represent a small population of cells that possess the properties of tumor initiation, self-renewal, resistance to chemotherapy, and metastatic potential10. CSCs were initially identified in hematopoietic malignancies11 and subsequently observed in various solid tumors such as the prostate12, ovarian13, gastric14, breast15, and lung16 carcinomas. Despite the availability of various techniques for CSC identification, the SP technique remains a favored choice owing to its broad applicability across diverse tissues and cell lines. Moreover, it is a valuable technique that isolates CSCs using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)16,17,18. The experimental findings demonstrate that SP cells exhibit pronounced tumorigenicity and display elevated expression levels of stem cell-associated genes19,20. Our previous study21 has also demonstrated that transcriptomic analysis of isolated SP cells in multiple myeloma reveals enrichment of signaling pathways associated with stem cells, such as the hedgehog pathway. Meanwhile, we performed pathway enrichment analyses on the genes differentially expressed in the SP cells of acute myelogenous leukemia22. The altered genes were enriched in stem cell-related pathways (Wnt/&#946;-catenin, TGF-&#946;, Hedgehog, Notch). We found that 1 x 105 SP cells could form tumors in BALB/c null mice22, whereas non-SP cells could not, indicating that SP cells had characteristics of leukemia stem cells. The efficacy of the Hoechst SP method in the identification of CSCs is evident.
The Hoechst SP protocol has been refined and enhanced through the progression of research. The protocol entails stringent control of the dye concentration, cell density, incubation temperature and duration, buffer composition, and pH value. The cell samples prepared in accordance with this protocol were subjected to flow cytometric analysis. Due to the excitation of Hoechst dye with a UV laser at 355 nm and detection of its fluorescence emission using both a 690/50 nm filter (Hoechst Red) and 450/50 nm filter (Hoechst Blue), a 350 nm laser is required for FCM. However, 350 nm lasers are not commonly equipped in most FCMs because of their high cost. Hence, we attempted to find an alternate approach for&#160;dye excitation for the effective detection of SP cells by flow cytometry. In this study, the capability of the 375 nm and 405 nm lasers in detecting SP cells was assessed and compared with that of the 355 nm laser. Our findings demonstrate a remarkable similarity between the SP cells detected by the 355 nm, 375 nm, and 405 nm lasers. These results suggest that the high-power 375 nm and 405 nm lasers can serve as feasible alternatives to the 355 nm laser for SP cell detection. The inclusion of additional excitation light sources for Hoechst 33342 facilitates the use of more flow cytometry models.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Automatic cell counter</td>
			<td>Countstar</td>
			<td>1M1200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Filter(100 &#181;m)</td>
			<td>BIOFIL</td>
			<td>CSS-013-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Daily quality control fluorospheres</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>B5230</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Modification of Eagle&#39;s Medium with 4.5g/L glucose (DMEM medium)</td>
			<td>CORNING</td>
			<td>10-013-CVRC</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>CORNING</td>
			<td>35-081-CV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HBSS</td>
			<td>Hyclone</td>
			<td>SH30030.02</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hoechst 33342</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>B2261</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Propidium iodide (PI)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P4170</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Red blood cell lysis buffer</td>
			<td>Beyotime</td>
			<td>C3702</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Verapamil</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>V4629</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

effective detection of hoechst side population cells by flow cytometry

The side population (SP) cells are identified through Hoechst 33342 staining and analyzed using flow cytometry (FCM). The Hoechst SP method is utilized for the isolation of stem cells based on the dye efflux properties of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. The method was initially employed for the identification and isolation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but it has now evolved to primarily focus on the identification and isolation of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The traditional detection method of FCM uses a 355 nm laser to excite the dye to detect SP cells. Through this study, we have successfully identified alternative approaches for dye excitation that can effectively replace the detection of SP cells using a 355 nm laser. This is achieved through the utilization of high-power 375 nm or 405 nm lasers. This allows us to exercise enhanced selectivity in the detection of SP cells rather than being solely limited to the 355 nm laser flow cytometry.

Author Spotlight: Innovative Laser Techniques for Hoechst Staining to Analyze Side Population Cells

Effective Detection of Hoechst Side Population Cells by Flow Cytometry

We use the Hoechst stain population method to detect tumor initiating cells. In this paper, we're trying to find alternative approaches for Hoechst excitation. We found that the high power 375 nanometer and 405 nanometer lasers can serve as feasible alternatives to the traditional 355 millimeter laser.Conventionally, the Hoechst dye is excited with a UV laser at 355 nanometer. Due to the high cost of the UV lasers, they're not commonly equipped in most flow cytometry models. Our protocol expands a range of the lasers that can be used to detect Hoechst staining.For researchers focusing on normal and malignant stem cells, more models of flow cytometry can be used to detect cytopopulation cells.

In Figure 2, the control group was treated with verapamil, which blocks ABC transporters in stem cells to prevent the elimination of Hoechst 33342. Thereby, the stem cells in the non-verapamil group expel Hoechst 33342 and form a negative cell population known as SP cells. The 355 nm laser effectively excited the Hoechst 33342 dye, resulting in clear observation of SP cells of bone marrow (Figure 2A). The SP cells of the same samples detected by the 355 nm laser...

Here, we show that high-power 375 nm and 405 nm lasers can effectively excite Hoechst 33342 and serve as a viable alternative to the 355 nm laser for side population (SP) cell detection, thereby expanding the range of available lasers in flow cytometry applications.

The side population (SP) cells are identified through Hoechst 33342 staining and analyzed using flow cytometry (FCM). The Hoechst SP method is utilized ...

effective-detection-of-hoechst-side-population-cells-by-flow-cytometry