Cell Dissociation Enzymes Affect Annexin V/Flow-Cytometric Apoptotic Assay Outcomes After miRNA-based Transient Transfection.
Anticancer Res 2022;
42:2819-2825. [PMID:
35641293 DOI:
10.21873/anticanres.15763]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM
miRNA functional analysis involves transfection with miRNA-based oligos to identify gain-of or loss-of function cellular phenotypes. Apoptosis is a common phenotypic endpoint for miRNA functional analysis. We report that four common cell dissociation enzymes, TrypLE, Accutase, Trypsin, and Accumax, can differentially impact cell viability and apoptosis in Annexin V flow cytometric analysis after miRNA-based transient transfection.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We transiently transfected a nonsense oligo into an epithelial cancer cell line (UM-SCC-12) for 24 h. Cells were harvested with either TrypLE, Accutase, Accumax, or Trypsin after 5 min. The Annexin V/7-AAD assay via flow cytometry was employed. Studies were performed in triplicate. Significant effects were detected by ANOVA, followed by Tukey's Multiple Comparison tests.
RESULTS
Trypsin produced the lowest cell viability and lowest percentage of apoptotic cells, specifically when compared to TrypLE and Accutase, respectively (p<0.01). Importantly, transfected trypsinized cells had a significant difference in cell viability and necrosis (p<0.05) when compared with non-transfected trypsinized cells, highlighting the influence of miRNA-based transfection on Annexin V flow cytometric outcomes. Interassay variability was lowest with TrypLE (1.13 %). As such, TrypLE provided the greatest reproducibility and reliability in our cell line.
CONCLUSION
Our study highlights the variable effects of cell dissociation enzymes on transfected cells. Overall, the variability may lead to errors in detection of apoptotic cells using the Annexin V assay after miRNA-based transfection. Before assay use, we recommend pretesting cell dissociation enzymes on transfected cells to ensure reliable and reproducible results.
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