Fluorescence properties (SPiDER Blue after reaction with β-galactosidase)

Fig. 2 Excitation and emission spectra of SPiDER Blue after reaction with β-galactosidase 

Comparison of SPiDER dyes

Product name	Feature	Living cell	Fixed cell	Detection methods	Wavelengths
Cellular Senescence Detection Kit SPiDER Blue	Enables detailed analysis by multiple staining with immunostaining	-	✓		Ex=350-450 nm Em=400-500 nm
Cellular Senescence Detection Kit SPiDER-βGal	Can be used for both live cells and fixed cells, ideal for first time detection	✓	✓		Ex=500-540 nm Em=530-570 nm
Cellular Senescence Plate Assay Kit SPiDER-βGal		✓	-		Ex=500-540 nm Em=530-570 nm

Experimental example: Multiple staining with oxidative stress-related markers using Doxorubicin-induced senescent cells（flow cytometry)

Using A549 cells induced to senescence by doxorubicin (DOX) and normal cells (CTRL), changes in oxidative stress-related markers in senescent cells were analyzed by flow cytometry with multiple staining. SA-βGal as a senescence marker was detected by Cellular Senescence Detection Kit - SPiDER Blue, total ROS as an oxidative stress marker was detected by ROS Assay Kit - Photo-oxidation Resistant DCFH-DA-, and γH2AX as a DNA damage marker was detected by DNA Damage Detection Kit - γH2AX-Red. As a result, total ROS and γH2AX were increased in SA-βGal-positive senescent cells, and the increase in oxidative stress-related markers associated with cellular senescence could be detected by multiple staining.

【Detection conditions】
Flow cytometry：SONY SA3800

　 SPiDER Blue: PacificBlue 　

    Photo-oxidation Resistant DCFH-DA: FITC

    γH2AX – Red: Cy3

＜Experimental Procedure>

*Cellular senescence was induced in A549 cells by DOX (0.2 μM DOX for 3 days → normal medium for 3 days)

1. Prepare a cell suspension of A549 cells (5 x 10⁵ cells/ml) 
2. Put 1 ml of the cell suspension into a 1.5 ml tube and suspend the cells by pipetting. 
3. Centrifuge at 300 x g for 5 min. 
4. Remove culture medium, add 500 μl of Photo-oxidation Resistant DCFH-DA Dye Working Solution, and suspend by pipetting. 
5. The suspension was incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes and centrifuged at 300 x g for 5 minutes. 
6. Remove the supernatant, add 200 μl of 4% PFA/PBS solution, and incubate at 4°C for 30 min or overnight. 
7. Centrifuge at 1,000 x g for 5 min. 
8. Remove the supernatant, add 500 μl of 15 μmol/l SPiDER Blue solution (Assay Buffer), and suspend by pipetting. 
9. The suspension was incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes and centrifuged at 1,000 x g for 5 minutes. 
10. The supernatant was removed, and 100 μl of 0.1% TritonX-100 solution (PBS) was added and suspended by pipetting. 
11. The suspension was incubated at room temperature for 20 minutes and centrifuged at 1,000 x g for 5 minutes. 
12. Remove the supernatant, add 300 μl of Blocking Solution, and suspend by pipetting. 
13. The suspension was incubated at room temperature for 20 minutes, and centrifuged at 1,000 x g for 5 minutes. 
14. Remove the supernatant and add 500 μl of Anti γH2AX antibody staining solution. 15. The mixture was incubated at room temperature for 1 hour and centrifuged at 1,000 x g for 5 minutes. 
16. Remove the supernatant and add 500 μl of Secondary antibody-red staining solution. 
17. Incubate at room temperature for 1 hour and centrifuge at 1,000 x g for 5 minutes. 18. The supernatant was removed, and 500 μl of PBS was added and suspended by pipetting. 
19. Centrifuge at 1,000 x g for 5 minutes. 
20. Remove the supernatant and add 500 μl of PBS. 
21. The sample was passed through a cell strainer. 
22. Samples were measured on a flow cytometer (SONY: SA3800).

Experimental example: Co-staining with Lipid droplet and SA-β-Gal in fixed cells

Imaging analysis of lipid droplet accumulation in senescent cells was performed using normal A549 cells (CTRL)  and cells induced senescence by Doxorubicin treatment (DOX). SA-β-Gal was detected as a senescence marker with Cellular Senescence Detection Kit - SPiDER Blue, and lipid droplets were detected with Lipi-Deep Red.
As a result, the signal of Lipi-Deep Red was increased in SA-β-Gal-positive senescent cells.

[Detection conditions]

SPiDE Blue: 405 nm (Ex), 400–550 nm (Em), 1.0%, 600V
Lipi-Deep Red: 633 nm (Ex), 650–700 nm (Em), 1.0%, 650V

*Cellular senescence was induced in A549 cells by DOX (0.2 μM DOX for 3 days → normal medium for 3 days)

1. A549 (2 x 10⁴) cells were seeded onto µ-slide 8 well plates (ibidi) and cultured overnight in a 37°C CO₂ incubator. 
2. The supernatant was removed, washed once with PBS, and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA)/PBS solution for 30 minutes at room temperature. 
3. The supernatant was removed and the cells were washed once with PBS. 
4. 15 µM SPiDER Blue + 0.1 µM Lipi-Deep Red prepared in Assay buffer was added and incubated at 37°C for 30 min.
5. The supernatant was removed, washed once with PBS, and 200 µl of PBS was added and observed under a confocal laser microscope (60x magnification).

Experimental example: Quantitative analysis with a fluorescent plate reader

*Cellular senescence was induced in A549 cells by DOX (0.2 μM DOX for 3 days → normal medium for 3 days)
1. A549 cells (2 x 10⁴) were seeded onto 96 well Black Plates (Clear bottom) and cultured overnight in a 37°C CO₂ incubator. 
2. The supernatant was removed and 100 µl of PBS was added to wash the cells. 
3. Add 100 µl of 4% PFA/PBS solution and incubate at room temperature for 30 minutes. 
4. Remove the supernatant, add 100 μl of PBS, and wash the cells. 
5. Add 100 μl of 15 μmol/l SPiDER Blue solution (diluted in Assay Buffer) and incubate at 37°C for 30 minutes. 
6. Remove the supernatant, add 100 μl of PBS, and wash the cells. 
7. Add 100 μl of 5 μmol/l DRAQ5 solution (PBS) and incubate at 37°C for 5 minutes. 
8. The supernatant was removed,  and cells were washed with 100 μl of PBS and measured with a fluorescent plate reader.
*To correct for cell number, nucleic acid staining was performed using DRAQ5, and fluorescence values were measured. (bottom reading) 
9. Lysis Buffer^*1 100 μl was added to each well and incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes. 
10. Add 100 μl of Stop Solution^*2 to each well. 
11. The signal of SPiDER Blue was detected by a fluorescence plate reader. (top reading)

*1 Lysis Buffer: 20 mM citric acid, 40 mM phosphate buffer pH 6.0, 0.05% NP-40
*2 Stop Solution: 0.5 M sodium carbonate-sodium bicarbonate buffer pH 10.0

*N=3
*Normalized by DRAQ5 signals

SPiDER Blue: Ex/Em = 405/460 nm
DRAQ5: Ex/Em = 633/681 nm

Experimental example: Staining of liver adipose tissue sections from aged mice (comparison with SPiDER-βGal)

1. 8-week-old and 35-week-old mouse liver adipose tissue (frozen sections) samples were prepared on glass slides. 
2. After washing once with PBS, 200 µl of 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA)/PBS solution was added and fixed at room temperature for 30 minutes. 
3. The supernatant was removed and washed once with PBS. 
4. Add 200 µl of 15 µM SPiDER Blue and 15 µM SPiDER-βGal prepared in Assay buffer and incubate at 37°C for 2 hours. 
5. The supernatant was removed and washed once with PBS. 
6. Add 1 drop of encapsulant (ProLong Glass Antifade Mountant, Thermo) and encapsulate with cover glass. 
7. Observed under a confocal laser microscope (40x magnification).

[Detection conditions]

SPiDER Blue: 405 nm (Ex), 400–500 nm (Em), 2.0%, 700V
SPiDER-βGal: 488 nm (Ex), 500–600 nm (Em), 1.0%, 600V

Experimental example: Co-staining with Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP)

SA-β-Gal (SG07: SPiDER) and MMP (MT09: MT-1) were detected in human microglial cells (control) and its senescence induced  cells by microscopy. Senescence induction resulted in decreased MMP and increased fluorescence of SPiDER Blue in human microglial cells.

*This data was kindly provided by Dr. Supriya D. Mahajan, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

1.　Seed human microglia cells into a dish and incubate in an incubator set at 37 ℃ and equilibrated with 95% air and 5% CO₂.
2.　Dilute the MT-1 Dye (1:1000) in the cell culture medium.
3.　Add MT-1 working solution to cells.
4.　Incubate the cells for 30 minutes in an incubator set at 37 ℃ and equilibrated with 95% air and 5% CO₂.
5.　Discard the supernatant and wash the cells with HBSS twice.
6.　Add 4% PFA/ PBS solution to the cells and incubate at room temperature for 30 minutes.
7.　Discard the 4% PFA / PBS solution and wash the cells with PBS.
8.　Add 15 µmol/l Spider Blue working solution and incubate at 37°C for 30 minutes.
9.　Remove the working solution, and wash the cells with PBS.
10. Add Imaging Buffer solution and observe the cells under a fluorescence microscope.