CFSE (Cell Proliferation Tracer Fluorescent Probe)

CFSE (carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimide ester) is a fluorescent probe commonly used for cell proliferation and tracking detection. CFSE is a derivative of fluorescein diacetate (FDA), which has good cell membrane permeability and does not emit fluorescence itself. The principle of using CFSE for cell proliferation detection and tracking is that after entering live cells, CFSE is specifically hydrolyzed by esterases in the cytoplasm, removing acetate groups and generating carboxyfluorescein succinimide ester (CFSE). This product can covalently bind with the amino groups of intracellular proteins, thereby stabilizing CFSE in the cell and emitting bright green fluorescence (excitation wavelength of 492 nm, emission wavelength of 517 nm). When CFSE labeled cells undergo division, fluorescence is evenly distributed to the two progeny cells, resulting in the fluorescence intensity of the progeny cells being half that of the parent cells. By detecting changes in the intensity of green fluorescence in cells, it is possible to clearly distinguish between undifferentiated cells and cells that have undergone different numbers of divisions. As cells continue to divide, the proliferation process, division generations, migration and distribution inside and outside the body can be tracked based on the gradient changes in fluorescence intensity.