Merck Millipore AldeRedALDH Detection Assay

The AldeRed ALDH Detection Assay, from Merck Millipore, provides cancer and stem cell scientists with more capabilities for live cell isolation and characterisation. The AldeRed reagent is a red-shifted fluorescent substrate for aldehyde dehydrogenase, allowing cells to be identified and isolated by flow cytometry with concurrent use of green fluorescent cell lines, antibodies, transgenic animals and reporter assays.

High ALDH activity serves as a universal marker of stem cells, both normal and malignant. Cells can be identified and isolated based on the enzymatic activity of ALDH, a detoxifying enzyme responsible for oxidation of hazardous aldehyde by-products. The marker ALDH has been used to isolate cancer stem cells from various human malignancies, including bladder, breast, cervical, colon, head and neck, liver, lung, pancreas, prostate and ovary.