Estimating lymphocyte division and death rates from CFSE data

Abstract

The division tracking dye, carboxyfluorescin diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) is currently the most informative labeling technique for characterizing the division history of cells in the immune system. Gett and Hodgkin [Nat. Immunol. 1:239-244, 2000] have pioneered the quantitative analysis of CFSE data. We confirm and extend their data analysis approach using simple mathematical models. We employ the extended Gett and Hodgkin [Nat. Immunol. 1:239-244, 2000] method to estimate the time to first division, the fraction of cells recruited into division, the cell cycle time, and the average death rate from CFSE data on T cells stimulated under different concentrations of IL-2. The same data i..