What is the Difference Between Ki67 and BrdU?

Ki67 and BrdU are both cellular markers used to study cell proliferation, but they stain different groups of cells and have distinct properties:

• Ki67: This is a specific protein that labels cells in all phases of the cell cycle except G0. It is expressed during the G1, S, G2, and M phases of the cell cycle. Ki67 is considered a better marker for cells in the growth fraction and is routinely used in pathology labs due to its diagnostic and prognostic power in cancer.
• BrdU: Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is a synthetic nucleoside that labels cells only during the S phase of the cell cycle. It is a good marker for conducting time-course studies.

While both markers are widely used as proliferation markers and usually show similar expression patterns, using only one marker may yield only partial information. Using both markers can enhance the reliability of the obtained results and provide a more comprehensive understanding of cell proliferation.

In summary, Ki67 labels cells in all phases of the cell cycle except G0, while BrdU labels cells only during the S phase. Both markers are useful for studying cell proliferation, but using both can provide more accurate and comprehensive results.

Comparative Table: Ki67 vs BrdU

The main difference between Ki67 and BrdU is that Ki67 is a specific protein, while BrdU is a synthetic nucleoside. They are both used as proliferation markers, but they label cells in different phases of the cell cycle. Here is a table summarizing their differences:

Ki67 is able to label cells in all stages of cell proliferation, from G1, S, G2, and mitosis, making it a better marker for cells in the growth fraction. In contrast, BrdU labels cells only during the S phase of the cell cycle. Using both markers can enhance the reliability of the obtained results, as they stain different groups of cells.