Metabolic monitoring of cells in a microplate reader

• US 5,766,875 A
• Filed: 01/31/1995
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molecular Devices
• Original Assignee: Molecular Devices
• Inventors: Wada, Henry Garrett, Sanchez, Anthony J., Hafeman, Dean G., Crawford, Kimberly L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEARY, LOUISE N
• Application Number:
  US08/379,532
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 435/29, 435/4, 435/287, 435/291, 435/240.1, 435/240.2, 436/34, 436/63, 436/164, 436/172, 436/805, 436/809, 422/68.1, 422/50, 422/55, 356/4.01
• US Class Current: 435/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/253 for batch operation, i.e. multisample apparatus analytical automats G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5008 for testing or evaluating the effect of chemical or biological compounds, e.g. drugs, cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/805 Optical property
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/809 Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays

Abstract

The present invention method may be practiced with many different types of biological cells. Biological cells may be either eucaryotic or procaryotic cells. The cells may be in the form of tissue slices or tissue homogenates or may be in the form of suspensions of intact single cells. The intact single cells may be grown in cell culture, as described in the previous examples, or may be obtained from blood, other body fluids, or from tissue biopsy. The cells may be cells containing receptors transfected by recombinant DNA techniques, or alternatively may be cells naturally responding to cell-affecting agents. The cells may be fresh or may have been previously preserved by dehydration, refrigeration, or freezing. When the cells have been preserved, preservative agents (for example dimethylsulfoxide in the case of frozen cells) may be removed prior to measurement of the effect of cell-affecting agents on rates of extracellular acidification. The cells may be either plant cells or animal cells. The cells also may be obtained from fresh or salt water samples. The biological cells also may be microbial cells including bacteria, rickettsia, or mycoplasma. Also, various types of fungi, including yeast, may be employed. Other types of cells include algae, protozoans, and the like. The cells may also be unable to reproduce. That is, the cells may be made synthetically, for example by encapsulation of enzymes capable of causing a change in extracellular acidification upon providing a suitable enzyme substrate.

Claims

1. A method for measuring the effects of cell metabolism affecting agents on cells retained in individual wells of a multiassay plate by measuring the rates of extracellular acidification, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing the cells in a solution containing pH buffer and an acid/base indicator, the acidic form having an optimum absorbance in a first wavelength region and the basic form having an optimum absorbance in a second wavelength region,

(b) adding a cell metabolism affecting agent to one or more, of the individual wells of the multiassay plate,

(c) heating the solution in each of the individual wells of the multiassay plate to substantially uniform temperature,

(d) mixing, simultaneously, the solution in each well of the multiassay plate for a first predetermined time,

(e) measuring optical density of light passing vertically through the wells of the multiassay plate both at the first wavelength in the first wavelength region and at a second wavelength in the second wavelength region,

(f) determining the ratio of the optical density at the first and second wavelengths in each of two, or more, wells of the multiassay plate,

(g) repeating steps (c), (d), (e), and (t) so as to effect repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities at predetermined time intervals within about an hour, wherein the repeating is done in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds,

(h) analyzing the repetitive measurements and indicating the rate of change within a selected time interval within about the one hour so as to monitor kinetically the rate of change in extracellular pH caused by the cells within the selected time interval, and

(i) comparing the rate of change in extracellular pH caused by the cells in wells containing the metabolism affecting agent to the wells with a lower concentration of the metabolism affecting agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step additionally comprises measuring optical density of light passing vertically through the wells of the multiassay plate at a third wavelength in a third wavelength region, wherein absorbance of the acid/base indicator does not change substantially in the third wavelength region when pH or temperature is varied, and wherein the determining step comprises calculating the ratio R wherein R is the quantity:

(the optical density at the first wavelength minus the optical density at the third wavelength) divided by (the optical density at the second wavelength minus the optical density at the third wavelength).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step additionally comprises calculating the logarithm of R.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining step additionally comprises calculating the logarithm of R.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the measuring step additionally comprises measuring the optical density at the first and the second wavelengths.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the measuring additionally comprises measuring the optical density at the first and the second wavelengths in the same reading cycle.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the measuring additionally comprises measuring the optical density at the first and the second wavelengths simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the measuring additionally comprises measuring the optical density at the first and the second wavelengths in succession of about 10 seconds, or 13 seconds when 3 seconds of agitation is utilized between subsequent reads of a single sample well.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the measuring step additionally comprises measuring the optical density at the first, second, and third wavelengths.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the measuring additionally comprises measuring the optical density at the first, second and third wavelengths in the same reading cycle.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the measuring additionally comprises measuring the optical density at the first, second and third wavelengths simultaneously.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the measuring step additionally comprises measuring the optical density at the first, second and third wavelengths in succession of about 10 seconds, or 13 seconds when 3 seconds of agitation is utilized between subsequent reads of a single sample well.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer maintains substantially the same ratio of the acidic and basic forms of the acid/base indicator with changes in temperature.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the buffer maintains substantially the same ratio of the acidic and basic forms of the acid/base indicator with changes in temperature.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the acid/base indicator is phenol red and the buffer comprises a phosphate buffer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the buffer also comprises an amine buffer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the amine buffer comprises a HEPES buffer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein additionally, a cell metabolism-affecting agent is added to one or more, of the wells of the multiassay plate and the rate of change in the extracellular pH caused by the cells in wells with the metabolism-affecting agent is compared to the rate of change in extracellular pH caused by the cells in wells containing a lower concentration of cell metabolism-affecting agent.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein additionally, a cell metabolism-affecting agent is added to one or more, of the wells of the multiassay plate and the rate of change in the extracellular pH caused by the cells in wells with the metabolism-affecting agent is compared to the rate of change in extracellular pH caused by the cells in wells containing a lower concentration of cell metabolism-affecting agent.

20. A microplate reader device comprising:

(a) a means for passing light vertically through contents of wells of a multiassay plate,

(b) means for heating the contents to substantially the same temperature,

(c) means for simultaneously agitating the contents,

(d) means for measuring optical density at two, or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents of each well of the multiassay plate,

(e) means for calculating a ratio of optical densities at two or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents,

(f) means for effecting repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds, and

(g) means for calculating either a rate of change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the ratio of optical densities comprises R wherein R is the quantity:

(the optical density at the first wavelength minus the optical density at the third wavelength) divided by (the optical density at the second wavelength minus the optical density at the third wavelength).

22. The device of claim 20 wherein, the means for calculating either a rate change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of the optical densities comprises a means for calculating a rate in change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein, the means for calculating either a rate change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of the optical densities comprises a means for calculating a rate in change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

24. The device of claim 20 wherein the means for measuring optical density at the two, or three wavelengths comprises means for measuring optical densities at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength, simultaneously.

25. The device of claim 21 wherein the means for measuring optical density at the two, or three wavelengths comprises means for measuring optical densities at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength, simultaneously.

26. The device of claim 23 wherein the means for measuring optical density at the two, or three wavelengths comprises means for measuring optical densities at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength, simultaneously.

27. A method for monitoring the metabolism in cells retained in individual wells of a multiassay plate by measuring the rates of extracellular acidification, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing the cells in a solution containing a pH buffer and an acid/base indicator, the acidic form having optimum absorbance in a first wavelength region and the basic form having optimum absorbance in a second wavelength region,

(b) heating the solution in each of the individual wells of the multiassay plate to a substantially uniform temperature,

(c) mixing, simultaneously, the solution in each well of the multiassay plate for a first predetermined time,

(d) repeating step (c) to monitor kinetically the rate of change in extracellular pH caused by the cells.

28. A device for carrying out a method or placing cells in a solution containing a pH buffer and an acid/base indicator, the acidic form having optimum absorbance in a first wavelength region and the basic form having optimum absorbance in a second wavelengths region, heating the solution in each of the individual wells of a multiassay plate to a substantially uniform temperature, mixing, simultaneously, the solution in each well of the multiassay plate for a predetermined time, measuring optical density of light passing vertically through the wells of the multiassay plate both at a first wavelengths in the first wavelength region and at a second wavelength in the second wavelength region, determining a ratio of the optical density at the first and second wavelengths in each of two or more wells of the multiassay plate, and repeating the steps of mixing, measuring the optical densities and determining the ratio of optical densities to monitor kinetically the rate of change in extracellular pH caused by the cells, the device comprising:

(a) a microplate reader which passes light vertically through the wells of the microplate and means for measuring optical density at two, or more, wavelengths of light passing vertically through solutions in the wells of the microplate;

(b) means for simultaneously agitating the solutions;

(c) means for heating the solutions to substantially the same temperature; and

(d) means for calculating either a rate of change on the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

29. A method for monitoring the metabolism in cells retained in individual wells of a multiassay plate by measuring the rates of extracellular acidification, comprising the steps of

(a) placing the cells in a solution containing a pH buffer and an acid/base indicator, the acidic form having optimum absorbance in a first wavelength region and the basic form having optimum absorbance in a second wavelength region,

(b) heating the solution in each of the individual wells of the multiassay plate to a substantially uniform temperature,

(c) mixing, simultaneously, the solution in each well of the multiassay plate for a first predetermined time,

(d) measuring the optical density, and

(e) repeating step (c) and (d) to monitor kinetically the rate of change in extracellular pH caused by the cells.

30. A microplate reader device comprising:

(a) a means for passing light vertically through contents of wells of a multiassay plate,

(b) means for heating the contents to substantially the same temperature,

(c) means for simultaneously agitating the contents,

(d) means for measuring optical density at two, or more, wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents of each well of the multiassay plate

(e) means for calculating a ratio of optical densities at two or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents,

(f) means for effecting repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities at predetermined time intervals, wherein the repetitive measurements are done in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds, and

(g) means for calculating either a rate of change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

31. A microplate reader device according to claim 50, wherein the elapsed time between the agitating and the measuring steps is lees than about 11 seconds.

32. A microplate reader device comprising:

(a) a means for passing light vertically through contents of wells of a multiassay plate;

(b) means for heating the contents to substantially the same temperature;

(c) means for simultaneously agitating the contents;

(d) means for measuring optical density in the same reading cycle at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents of each well of the multiassay plate;

(e) means for calculating a ratio of optical densities at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents,

wherein the ratio of optical densities comprises R wherein R is the quantity;

(the optical density at a first wavelength minus the optical density at a third wavelength) divided by (the optical density at a second wavelength minus the optical density at the third wavelength);

(f) means for effecting repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds, and

(g) means for calculating either a rate of change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

33. A microplate reader device comprising:

(a) a means for passing light vertically through contents of wells of a multiassay plate;

(b) means for heating the contents to substantially the same temperature;

(c) means for simultaneously agitating the contents,

(d) means for measuring optical density at simultaneously at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents of each well of the multiassay plate;

(e) means for calculating a ratio or optical densities at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents,

wherein the ratio of optical densities comprises R wherein R is the quantity;

(the optical density at a first wavelength minute the optical density at a third wavelength) divided by (the optical density at a second wavelength minus the optical density at the third wavelength);

(f) means for effecting repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds; and

(g) means for calculating either a rate of change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

34. A microplate reader device comprising:

(a) a means for passing light vertically through contents of wells of a multiassay plate;

(b) means for heating the contents to substantially the same temperature;

(c) means for simultaneously agitating the contents;

(d) means for measuring optical density at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents of each well of the multiassay plate;

(e) the means for measuring further comprising means for measuring the optical density at first and second wavelengths, in succession of about ten seconds, or 13 seconds when 3 seconds of agitation is utilized between subsequent reads of a single sample well;

(f) means for calculating a ratio of optical densities at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents, wherein the ratio of optical densities comprises R wherein R is the quantity;

(the optical density at the first wavelength minus the optical density at a third wavelength) divided by (the optical density at the second wavelength minus the optical density at the third wavelength);

(g) means for effecting repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds; and

(h) means for calculating either a rate of change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

35. A microplate reader device comprising:

(a) a means for passing light vertically through contents of wells of a multiassay plate;

(b) means for heating the contents to substantially the same temperature;

(c) means for simultaneously agitating the contents;

(d) means for measuring optical density in the same reading cycle at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents o each well or the multiassay plate;

(e) means for calculating a ratio of optical densities at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents;

(f) means for effecting repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds; and

(g) means for calculating either a rate of change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities, which means comprise a means for calculating a rate in change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

36. A microplate reader device comprising:

(a) a means for passing light vertically through contents of wells of a multiassay plate;

(b) means for heating the contents to substantially the same temperature;

(c) means for simultaneously agitating the contents;

(d) means for measuring optical density simultaneously at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents of each well of the multiassay plate;

(e) means for calculating a ratio of optical densities at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents;

(f) means for effecting repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds; and

(g) means for calculating either a rate of change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities, which means comprise a means for calculating a rate in change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.

37. A microplate reader device comprising:

(a) a means for passing light vertically through contents of wells of a multiassay plate;

(b) means for heating the contents to substantially the same temperature;

(c) means for simultaneously agitating the contents;

(d) means for measuring optical density at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents of each well of the multiassay plate;

(e) the means measuring additionally comprising means for measuring the optical density at first, second and third wavelengths in succession of about 10 seconds, or 13 seconds when three seconds of agitation is utilized, between subsequent reads of a single sample well;

(e) means for calculating a ratio of optical densities at three or more wavelengths of light passing vertically through the contents;

(f) means for effecting repetitive measurements of the ratio of optical densities in relatively rapid succession within 13 seconds; and

(g) means for calculating either a rate of change in the ratio of optical densities or a rate of change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities, which means comprise a means for calculating a rate in change in a logarithm of the ratio of optical densities.