Spektrales 6-Laser Durchflusszytometer

Basic data for this project

Description

At the Faculty of Medicine of Heinrich Heine University (HHU) and the University Hospital Düsseldorf (UKD), the investigation of immunological and inflammatory processes in the context of various diseases is a central research focus. Essential to this is the phenotypic characterization of immune cell subtypes from blood, as well as from various tissue types. Furthermore, activation status, cytokine profiles, and cellular metabolism play a crucial role in addressing (patho)physiological questions within the individual departments. The reorganization of the research laboratories and the relocation of many research groups to the UKD’s new Medical Research Center I has created spatial and personnel synergies that offer an excellent opportunity for cooperation among the individual research groups in investigating immunological questions. This allows existing flow cytometers to be used and shared more efficiently. The Core Facility Flow Cytometry, located in the same building, serves as an important platform for professional exchange and the opportunity to form new networks. Given the new networking possibilities, a “high-end” spectral flow cytometer is of paramount importance, as it offers the opportunity to analyze immunological and cell biological processes more comprehensively and accurately. A fundamental technical advancement lies primarily in the method of detection and analysis. In conventional flow cytometers, detectors are designed for a precisely defined wavelength. Consequently, during measurements, only these precisely defined ranges—limited to 10–24 fluorescence channels—are recorded and analyzed. A spectral flow cytometer captures the entire light spectrum by utilizing a large number of detectors. As a result, a spectral flow cytometer has up to 184 fluorescence channels. This allows for the simultaneous use of fluorophores that previously could not be combined (due to spectral overlap), and also enables the analysis of cellular autofluorescence as an additional parameter. Thus, with valuable and often limited sample material, not only can the distribution of individual cell groups be better determined, but subpopulations, as well as their developmental and activation status, can be examined, and unknown cell types can be identified via their autofluorescence.  In addition to its measurement capabilities, a spectral flow cytometer offers greater opportunities for standardizing measurements and conducting quality control of materials by allowing the spectra of the fluorophores used to be compared with reference spectra and standardized. By integrating the instrument into the Core Facility and leveraging the extensive expertise available on-site, the research of all participating research groups and users is being advanced in a groundbreaking way.