ACQUISITION OF A SINGLE CELL MASS CYTOMETER (CYTOF)

描述（由申请人提供）：质量细胞术是一种新技术，它将流式细胞术和质谱法结合在一起，从而使单独使用任何一种技术都不可行的研究成为可能。该方法利用元素质量抗体标签，而不是荧光团，并且由于每个元素质量通道是不同的，不需要信号补偿。重要的是，流式细胞术保留了单细胞分辨率，从而允许在原代血液或骨髓样本中描述复杂的细胞亚群。目前，该技术可以同时测量32个参数，随着进一步发展，可能达到50-100个标记。这种方法需要使用专门为这种分析设计的专用仪器（CyTOF）。目前在华盛顿大学或周边地区没有类似的仪器。获得CyTOF将使华盛顿大学至少13名nih资助的研究人员能够进行研究，这些研究将改变造血发育、干细胞生物学和肿瘤免疫学领域。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mass cytometry is a novel technology that merges aspects of flow cytometry with mass spectrometry, thereby enabling studies that would not be feasible with either technology alone. This approach utilizes elemental mass antibody tags, rather than fluorophores, and as each elemental mass channel is distinct, no signal compensation is required. Importantly, the single cell resolution of flow cytometry is retained, thus permitting the delineation of complex cell subsets within primary blood or bone marrow samples. Presently, ~32 parameters can be measured simultaneously with this technology, and with further development, up to 50-100 markers is likely. This approach requires the use of a specialized instrument (CyTOF) designed specifically for this analysis. There are currently no similar instruments available at Washington University or the surrounding vicinity. Acquisition of a CyTOF will enable at least 13 NIH-funded investigators at Washington University to conduct studies that will transform the fields of hematopoietic development, stem cell biology, and tumor immunology.