CFSE is a fluorescent product of CFDA-SE cleavage by intracellular esterases.1 CFSE lacks the diacetate groups of CFDA-SE and, as a result, is less cell permeable. CFSE fluorescence is cytoplasmic, and it has excitation/emission maxima of 491 and 518 nm, respectively.2 It covalently couples to intracellular molecules via its succinimidyl group and can be retained within cells for at least eight weeks. The dilution of CFSE fluorescence resulting from cell division can be used to analyze cell proliferation.3 Its fluorescence can also be used to track cell migration in vivo.4
1.Breeuwer, P., Drocourt, J., Rombouts, F.M., et al.A novel method for continuous determination of the intracellular pH in bacteria with the internally conjugated fluorescent probe 5 (and 6-)-carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl esterAppl. Environ. Microbiol.62(1)178-183(1996) 2.Weston, S.A., and Parish, C.R.New fluorescent dyes for lymphocyte migration studies. Analysis by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopyJ. Immunol. Methods133(1)87-97(1990) 3.Lyons, A.B.Analysing cell division in vivo and in vitro using flow cytometric measurement of CFSE dye dilutionJ. Immunol. Methods243(1-2)147-154(2000) 4.Parish, C.R., Glidden, M.H., Quah, B.J.C., et al.Use of the intracellular fluorescent dye CFSE to monitor lymphocyte migration and proliferationCurr. Protoc. Immunol.Supp. 844.9.1-4.9.13(2009)