Cell alterations during isolation and preparation for flow cytometry cell sorting by antibodies, temperature, homogenization, buffer composition and mitogens are well known. In contrast, little is known about cell alteration caused by the instrument or the sorting process itself. We systematically evaluated cellular responses to different sorter-induced physical forces. In summary, flow cytometry cell-sorting induced forces can affect cellular signaling cascades, especially the MAPK p38. Functional assays, related to the p38 MAPK pathway, of human primary T cells after flow cytometry sorting did lead to minor physiological modulation but no functional impairments. © 2020 The Authors. Cytometry Part A published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
Keywords: MAPK; T cells; cell purification; cell sorting; cell stress; flow cytometry cell sorting; p38 activation; traceless affinity cell selection.
© 2020 The Authors. Cytometry Part A published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.