Our FLICA® probes are non-cytotoxic Fluorescent Labeled Inhibitors of CAspases that covalently bind to active caspase enzymes. FLICA® measures the intracellular process of apoptosis instead of a side-effect, such as the turnover of phosphatidyl serine, and eliminates the incidence of false positives that often plagues methods like Annexin V and TUNEL staining. FLICA® can also be used to measure pyroptosis, a highly inflammatory form of programmed cell death.
FLICA® can be used to label suspension or adherent cells and thin tissue sections. After labeling with FAM-FLICA®, cells can be fixed or frozen. For tissues that will be paraffin-embedded after labeling, use our red sulforhodamine SR-FLICA® probes.
We have kits for the detection of: caspase-1 (YVAD or WEHD) (also recognizes caspases 4 and 5), -2 (VDVAD), -3/7 (DEVD), -6 (VEID), -8 (LETD), -9 (LEHD), and -10 (AEVD).
FLICA kits are available with a green, red, or far-red fluorescent label.
![Figure 1. THP-1 cells were treated with either a negative control (A), or PMA (5 ng/mL) followed by LPS (10 ng/mL). Cells were then stained with FAM-YVAD-FMK (cat. 97/98) and analyzed by phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy. In the treated sample, many cells appear bright green, indicating increased caspase-1 activity (B). In the non-induced sample, few green cells are visible, indicating a low level of caspase-1 activity (A). Data courtesy of Dr. Brian Lee, ICT (207:11).](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/97_figure_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768665)
![Figure 1. Flow cytometry analysis of active caspase-9 in MDA-MB-231 (A,B) and ZR-75-1 (C,D) cells. Cells were stained with FAM-FLICA® Caspase-9 reagent. From Figure 5 of R. Krętowski and M. Cechowska-Pasko, The Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) Induces Apoptosis, Autophagy and Cell Cycle Arrest in Breast Cancer Cells, Int J Mol Sci (2022) 23, 9285. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Copyright © 2022 by the authors.](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/912_figure_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768679)
![Figure 1. Suspension Jurtkat cells were treated with DMSO (control, A) or 1 µM staurosporine (B) for 4 hours at 37°C, then stained with SR-LETD-FMK (kit cat. 9149/9150) for 1 hour at 37°C. Cells were washed three times and slides prepared. Treated cells appear bright red, indicating a high level of caspase-8 activity (B). Few non-induced cells are red, indicating minimal caspase-8 activity (A, Non-Induced, left). Data courtesy of Mrs. Tracy Murphy, ICT (220:68, 121815).](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/9149_figure_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768859)
![Figure 1. Control Alzheimer's Disease (AD) macrophages and curcumin-treated AD macrophages were exposed to FITC-labeled Aß and stained with SR-DEVD-FMK (#931/932). Macrophages that engulf FITC-Aß fluoresce green (right). Caspase-positive cells fluoresce red (left). Essentially all of the untreated AD macrophages engulfed FITC-Aß and became apoptotic. Curcumin-treated AD macrophages engulfed FITC-Aß but did not become apoptotic. Data courtesy of Dr. Milan Fiala, UCLA 072205.](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/931_figure_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768704)
![Figure 1. Jurkat cells, grown in suspension, were incubated with 1 µM staurosporine for 3 hours at 37°C to induce apoptosis, and then labeled with SR-LEHD-FMK (cat. 960/961) for 60 minutes at 37°C. Slides were prepared and imaged using a fluorescence microscope with a broad band pass filter. On slide B, cells appear very bright red, indicating a high level of active caspase-9 in these apoptotic cells. Non-induced cells did not fluoresce (slide A). Data courtesy of Dr. Brian W. Lee, ICT.](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/960_figure_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768760)
![Figure 2. Jurkat cells were exposed to two experimental conditions (A and B). Each condition was treated with either DMSO (negative) or staurosporine (apoptotic), then labeled with SR-LEHD-FMK (cat. 960/961). Samples were read in a fluorescence plate reader (550 nm excitation and 590 nm emission using a 570 nm cut-off filter). Staurosporine induced caspase-9 activity 3.3X in both conditions: Condition A (11.0 to 36.5) and Condition B (12.7 to 41.8). Data courtesy of Mrs. Tracy Murphy, ICT 8Y18.](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/960_figure_2_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768761)
![Figure 1. Cell death in primary rat hippocampal neurons. (A) is a composite of FLICA® FAM-DEVD-FMK (B), PI (C), and Hoechst (D). DNA is labeled in 4 cells (D), 3 cells are caspase-positive (B), 2 are membrane-compromised (C). One cell is in early apoptosis (green but not red). Two FLICA®-positive cells are also PI-positive (red, C) (becoming membrane compromised) and are in the late stages of apoptosis rather than necrosis. Data courtesy of Dr. Z. Kahraman Akozer, University of Maryland.](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/93_figure_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768657)
![Figure 2. Normal (A) and keratoconus (B) corneal fibroblasts were treated with 200 μM H2O2 for 1 hour, washed, and allowed to recover. Cells were then treated with FAM-DEVD-FMK (cat. 93/94) for 1 hour, then washed with 1X Apoptosis Wash Buffer. Keratoconus corneal fibroblasts treated with H2O2 (B) show a significant increase in caspase-3/7 activity compared to normal cells (A). Non-apoptotic cells are dark in background. Data courtesy of Dr. Cristina Kenney, University of California, Irvine.](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/93_figure_2_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768657)
![Figure 1. Caspase activities in the microglia of white matter injury mice using our FAM-FLICA® kits. Only caspase 1 was significantly upregulated. Figure 1 (d) of L. He et al (2022) miR-214-3p Deficiency Enhances Caspase-1-Dependent Pyroptosis of Microglia in White Matter Injury, Hindaw Journal of Immunology Research 2022, 1642896. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1642896. Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Copyright © 2022 Liufang He et al.](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/95_figure_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768661)
![Figure 1. Monocytes can secrete active caspase-1, therefore cells were labeled with FAM-FLICA® Caspase-1 (WEHD) (cat. 9161/9162) prior to treatment. Cells were then treated with DMSO (control) or 10 µM nigericin (cat. 6698), stained with Hoechst 33342, fixed (cat. 636), and viewed using EGFP (Ex 470/30, Em 530/50) and DAPI (Ex 375/28, Em 460/50) LED filter cubes at 20X. Increased levels of FAM-FLICA® staining were seen in the nigericin-treated cells. Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT (235:60).](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/9161_figure_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768897)
![Figure 1. Activity of caspase-8 (using FAM-LETD-FMK) in AGS cells after 24 h incubation with Les-4367 (1 μM) and combined with anti-HER2 antibodies. From Figure 4 of A. Gornowicz et al Multi-Targeting Anticancer Activity of a New 4-Thiazolidinone Derivative with Anti-HER2 Antibodies in Human AGS Gastric Cancer Cells, Int J Mol Sci (2023) 24, 6791. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Copyright © 2023 by the authors.](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/99_figure_1_{width}x.png?v=1709768669)
![Green Fluorescent FAM-FLICA® Caspase-2 (VDVAD) Assay Kit](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/918-fam-flica-caspase-2_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768693)
![Green Fluorescent FAM-FLICA® Caspase-2 (VDVAD) Assay Kit](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/918-fam-flica-caspase-2-components_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768693)
![Green Fluorescent FAM-FLICA® Caspase-10 (AEVD) Assay Kit](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/923-fam-flica-caspase-10_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768700)
![Green Fluorescent FAM-FLICA® Caspase-10 (AEVD) Assay Kit](http://www.antibodiesinc.com/cdn/shop/files/923-fam-flica-caspase-10-components_{width}x.jpg?v=1709768699)