Labeling and tracking of mesenchymal stromal cells with EdU

Abstract

Background-Thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, BrdU) has been widely used to label cells in culture and in tissue. The labeled cells can also be tracked when transplanted into a suitable host. In the present study we tested a new thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) for labeling and tracking of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), specifically adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSC).

Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells Ameliorate Diabetic Bladder Dysfunction in a Type II Diabetic Rat Model

“…EdU was incorporated into the nucleus in *50% of ADSCs with this labeling system [22]. In both the DM + T and DM + B groups, EdU-labeled cells in the bladder demonstrated the capacity of ADSCs to survive for at least 1 month posttransplantation.…”

“…In the current study, we used EdU labeling as a tracking method, which is incorporated into the nuclear DNA and, therefore, makes it easier to colocalize with DAPI [22]. EdU was incorporated into the nucleus in *50% of ADSCs with this labeling system [22].…”

Stem Cell Therapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Critical Review

“…These studies and another, in which DAPI was found to get transferred from labeled transplantation cells to unlabeled host cells [59], point out that all noncovalent DNAbinding dyes should be avoided when it comes to selecting labels for tracking SCs in transplantation studies. Instead, covalent DNA-binding labels such as BrdU and EdU are safer choices, and due to its more efficient detection procedure and more reliable histological outcome, EdU is recommended over BrdU [60,61].…”

Bone Marrow Cells Stained by Azide-Conjugated Alexa Fluors in the Absence of an Alkyne Label

“…While Salic and Mitchison's study focused on the detection of EdU in cultured cells, we extended EdU's usefulness to the tracking of exogenously transplanted cells and to the identification of endogenously proliferating cells in animals [3]. We have since used this technique in 18 published studies, including 2 recent ones that focused on the identification of label-retaining cells (LRC) in adipose tissue and in the urinary bladder, respectively [4,5].…”