WGA staining of human whole blood analyzed by mass cytometry

To evaluate WGA staining intensity in whole blood immune populations as a potential size metric for mass cytometry analysis.
Conclusion:
WGA staining intensity was quite consistent within specific immune cell subsets, and that patterns of relative expression across cell subsets varied reproducibly across individuals. We also found that WGA staining intensity across cell subsets generally correlated with published cell diameter, with smaller lymphocytes exhibiting significantly lower WGA intensity than larger monocytes and granulocytes. Samples were loaded with EQ beads (Fluidigm) and data were acquired at an event rate of <500evt/s. The stability of signal intensity over time was confirmed to be within tolerable ranges, and the data were normalized using a bead-based normalization algorithm (Fluidigm).