Flow cytometric analysis of antibody producing cells using double immunofluorescent staining

Double fluorescent labeling, with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled F(ab')(2) specific for the heavy chain and R-phycoerythrin (R-PE)-labcled F(ab')(2) specific for the light chain, was demonstrated as a convenient means for the accurate evaluation of a heterogeneous non-antibody-producing population. Furthermore, it could be used for monitoring the changes in each immunoglobulin (Ig) chain content of the cells during the batch culture, which will facilitate the study on antibody synthesis, assembly and secretion.