Using a Rhenium Probe to Detect Aging Cells by Mass Cytometry

A small-molecule mass cytometry probe, ReGal, effectively measures β-Gal activity in cells with minimal background signal.

• ReGal uses a rhenium complex as a mass tag to detect β-Gal activity.
• The probe enhances the ability to differentiate senescence-induced mouse embryonic fibroblasts from untreated cells compared to traditional antibody-based methods.
• ReGal identifies a potentially senescent sub-population of mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells that is more prevalent in older mice.
• This approach may offer improved insights into cellular senescence by integrating small-molecule probes with mass cytometry.

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