Incucyte® Live-Cell Immunocytochemistry

Reveal the Dynamics of Surface Protein Expression with a New Approach to Immunocytochemistry

Immunocytochemistry (ICC) is an important cell imaging technique for visualizing protein localization, trafficking pathways and protein-protein interactions. With specialized microscopes, researchers can resolve labeled cell structures with nanometer resolution.

However, studying changes in protein distribution and expression over time, which may occur as cells differentiate, interact or respond to external stimuli, is more challenging.

With the new Incucyte® Live-Cell Immunocytochemistry protein detection technique utilizing non-perturbing Incucyte® Fabfluor-488 and Incucyte® Fabfluor-594 Antibody Labeling Dyes, you can now complement your existing immunocytochemistry protocols and start gaining new insights into the dynamics of surface protein expression.

Introducing Incucyte® Live-Cell Immunocytochemistry

Incucyte® Live-cell Immunocytochemistry Assay combines the power of automated imaging and analysis with a simple-to-use, antibody labeling approach to generate kinetic, image-based measurements of surface protein expression – inside your tissue culture incubator.  Incucyte® Live-Cell Immunocytochemistry offers a powerful solution for long-term tracking and quantification of cell surface protein markers which can then be linked to cell function and morphology, allowing for greater insight into cellular processes.

Quantify surface protein expression dynamics

Measure protein expression and distribution over time using non-perturbing antibody labeling reagents — inside your incubator.

Read more below

Unlock your productivity

Rapid, single-step labeling plus automated acquisition and analysis of images from up to six 96-well plates in parallel to get to answers faster.

Read more below

Couple protein expression dynamics to morphology & function

Associate changes in surface protein expression with cell function and morphology to reveal informative, temporal changes in cell behavior.

Read more below

Derive deeper insight with cell-cell interaction studies

Visualize and quantify cell-cell interactions overtime in complex co-culture models, revealing insight into the interplay of cells.

Read more below

Quantify surface protein expression dynamics

Measure the dynamic changes in cell surface proteins in response to inflammatory stimuli to provide additional insight into regulation of the immune-cell signaling pathways in tumors.

Figure 1. Automated analysis of Incucyte® Fabfluor-488 Dye fluorescence reveals cell type-, time- and concentration-dependent increase in PD-L1 expression (right). Incucyte® Nuclight Red MDA-MB-231 (breast) or SKOV-3 (ovarian) cancer cells were incubated with IFNγ in the presence of Incucyte® Fabfluor-488-α-PD-L1 antibody complex and Incucyte® Opti-Green background suppressor. Quantification of the green fluorescent area shows that IFNγ induces a time- and concentration- dependent increase in PD-L1 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells. Time-course profiles show differential PD-L1 expression in MDA-MB-231 (high expresser) and SKOV-3 (medium expresser) cells.

Click image to enlarge

Coupling protein expression dynamics to morphology & function

Easily link long-term changes in protein abundance and distribution to changes in morphology and function in real time.

Figure 2. Multiplex cell surface marker, phagocytic activity, and proliferation measurements plus visualize morphology to study differentiation (right). THP-1 monocytes were exposed to media (undifferentiated), vitamin D3 or PMA in the presence of Incucyte® Fabfluor-488 antibody complexed to CD11b, CD14 or CD40. PMA showed a marked change in cell morphology (HD-phase contrast images) compared to media alone or vitamin D3 treated cells. The kinetic graphs highlight differential and time-dependent surface protein expression in response to the various treatments. Interestingly, PMA, but not media or vitamin D3, yields a decrease in cell proliferation (confluence) and concordant increase in phagocytic potential as measured by efferocytosis of apoptotic Jurkat cells labeled with pHrodo® Red Cell Labeling Kit for Incucyte®.

Click image to enlarge

Video.  Confirm cell-cell interactions in an immune cell killing model over time. Incucyte® Nuclight Red A549 lung cancer cells were cultured with human PBMCs in the presence of Incucyte® Fabfluor-488 tagged CD8 antibody. Activation of PBMCs with CD3/IL-2 increased PBMC interaction with tumor cells. Labeling of immune-cells with Incucyte® Fabfluor-488-CD8 confirmed polarity, where the CD8+ region of the PBMC appeared to contact the A549 tumor cell.

Specific antigen detection to identify and quantify mixed cell populations

Evaluate complex co-culture models and characterize their cellular interactions with specific surface markers that identify changes in protein expression over time.

Figure 5. Specificity and longevity of surface marker expression over time using Incucyte® Fabfluor-488 Dye. Ramos (B cell like) cells were grown in the presence of various Incucyte® Fabfluor-488 labeled antibodies in the presence of Incucyte® Opti-Green. Long term labeling with non-specific (CD45) and specific (CD20) B cell markers was observed. No fluorescent signal was seen for a T cell marker (CD3) or isotype control antibodies.  When Ramos and Jurkat (T cell like) cells were mixed in fixed ratios, the expected level of CD20 staining was measured, demonstrating the utility in mixed cultures.

Click image to enlarge