Guidelines (Following is our recommended protocol. This protocol only provides a guideline, and should be modified according to your specific needs).
Labeling of Cells:
1. Culture cells in 6-, 12- , 24-, or 96-well plates at a density of 5× 10 cells/mL. Incubate the cells according to your normal protocol.
2. Ensure that the JC-1 and DMSO has equilibrated to room temperature, and then prepare a 200 μM stock solution by dissolving the contents of one vial in DMSO provided.
3. For the control tube, allow the vial of CCCP has come to room temperature, add 1 μL of CCCP (50 mM). Incubate cells at 37°C for 5 minutes.
4. Add 10 μL JC-1 (200 μM) per well to make the final concentration at 2 μM. Incubate cells at 37°C, 5% CO2, for 15-20 minutes. If additional labeling followed, for example with an annexin V, begin with step 2.a. If not, proceed with step 1.e.
5. After incubation, centrifuge cells for 3-4 minutes at 400× g at 4°C, carefully aspirate the supernant.
6. Wash cells twice with PBS (1×): add 2 mL PBS (1×) to suspend cells and vortex to mix thoroughly. Centrifuge cells for 3-4 minutes at 400× g at 4°C, carefully aspirate the supernant.
7. Add 500 μL PBS (1×) to suspend cells. Analyze sample on a flow cytometer, fluorescence microscopy, or fluorescence microplate reader.