Identifying Bone Marrow Microenvironmental Populations in Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Summary

Here a detailed protocol to isolate and characterize bone marrow microenvironmental populations from murine models of myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia is presented. This technique identifies changes in the non-hematopoietic bone marrow niche, including the endothelial and mesenchymal stromal cells, with disease progression.

Abstract

The bone marrow microenvironment consists of distinct cell populations, such as mesenchymal stromal cells, endothelial cells, osteolineage cells, and fibroblasts, which provide support for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In addition to supporting normal HSCs, the bone marrow microenvironment also plays a role in the development of hematopoietic stem cell disorders, such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). MDS-associated mutations in HSCs lead to a block in differentiation and progressive bone marrow failure, especially in the elderly. MDS can often progress to therapy-resistant AML, a disease characterized by a rapid accumulation of immature myeloid blasts. The bone marrow microenvironment is known to be altered in patients with these myeloid neoplasms. Here, a comprehensive protocol to isolate and phenotypically characterize bone marrow microenvironmental cells from murine models of myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia is described. Isolating and characterizing changes in the bone marrow niche populations can help determine their role in disease initiation and progression and may lead to the development of novel therapeutics targeting cancer-promoting alterations in the bone marrow stromal populations.

Introduction

The bone marrow microenvironment consists of hematopoietic cells, non-hematopoietic stromal cells, and the extracellular matrix^1,2. This microenvironment can promote hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal, regulate lineage differentiation, and provide structural and mechanical support to the bone tissue^1,2,3,4,5. The stromal niche includes osteolineage cells, fibroblasts, nerve cells, and endothelial cells⁶, while the hematopoi....

Protocol

All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with protocols approved by the University of Rochester University Committee on Animal Resources. Mice were bred and maintained in the animal care facilities at the University of Rochester. To model high-risk MDS, the commercially available NHD13 murine model¹⁹ is employed. In this model, bone marrow stromal cells are analyzed in female NHD13 mice at 8 weeks of age, before disease onset. De novo AML is generated as previously described

Discussion

Murine leukemia models have been extensively used to identify cell intrinsic and niche-driven signals that promote aggressive myeloid leukemia progression^6,19,21. Here, a comprehensive flow cytometry-based protocol to define the cellular composition of the bone marrow microenvironment in murine models of MDS and AML is presented.

Prior to acquiring flow cytometric data from experimental samples, it is.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1 mL pipette Tips	Genesee Scientific	24-165RL
1.7 mL Microcentrifuge Tubes	AVANT	L211511-CS
10 µL pipette Tips	Genesee Scientific	24-140RL
10 mL Individually Wrapped Sterile Serological Pipettes	Globe scientific	1760
1000 mL Vacuum Filtration Flask	NEST	344021
15 mL Centrifuge Tube	VWR	10026-076
2 mL Aspirating Pipette	NEST	325011
200 µL pipette Tips	Genesee Scientific	24-150-RL
25 mL Individually Wrapped Sterile Serological Pipettes	Globe scientific	1780
5 mL Individually Wrapped Sterile Serological Pipettes	Globe scientific	1740
5 mL Polystyrene Round-Bottom Tube  12 x 75 mm style	Falcon	352054
5 mL Polystyrene Round-Bottom Tube with Cell Strainer Cap 12 x 75 mm style	Falcon	352235
50 mL Centrifuge Tube	NEST	602052
6 Well, Flat Bottom with Low Evaporation Lid	Falcon	353046
Absorbent Underpads with Waterproof Moisture Barrier	VWR	56616-031
APC MicroBeads	Miltenyi	130-090-855
autoMACS Pro Separator	Miltenyi Biotec GmBH	4425745
BD Pharmingen Purified Rat Anti-Mouse CD16/CD32 (Mouse BD Fc Block)	BD Biosciences	553141	0.5 mg/mL
Bovine Serum Albumin	Sigma-Aldrich	A7906	66.000 g/mol
Brilliant Violet 421 anti-mouse Ly-6A/E (Sca-1) Antibody (D7)	Invitrogen	404-5981	0.2 mg/mL
C57BL/6J Mice	Jackson Laboratory	664
Carbon Dioxide Gas Tank	Airgas	CD50
CD31 (PECAM-1) Monoclonal Antibody (390), PE-Cyanine7	Invitrogen	25-0311-82	0.2 mg/mL
CD45 Monoclonal Antibody (30-F11), APC	Invitrogen	17-0451-82	0.2 mg/mL
Cell Strainer 70 µm Nylon	Falcon	352350
Cole-Parmer Essentials Mortar and Pestle; Agate, 125 mL	Cole-Parmer	EW-63100-62
Collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum	Sigma-Aldrich	C5138-500MG
Collagenase Type I	STEMCELL	7415
Corning Mini Centrifuge	CORNING	6770
Corning Stripettor Ultra Pipet Controller	Corning	4099
Deoxyribonuclease I from bovine pancreas	Sigma-Aldrich	D4513
Dispase II, powder	Gibco	117105041
DPBS 10x	gibco	14200-075
eBioscience 1x RBC Lysis Buffer	Invitrogen	00-4333-57
Ethanol absolute, KOPTEC, meets analytical specification of BP, Ph. Eur., USP (200 Proof)	VWR	89125-174
Fine scissors - sharp	Fine Science Tools	14061-10
Foundation B Fetal Bovine Serum	GeminiBio	900-208
Gilson PIPETMAN L Pipette Starter Kits	FisherScientific	F167370G
Graefe Forceps	Fine Science Tools	11051-10
Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) 10x	gibco	14185-052
Hemocytometer	Fisher	02-671-10
Incubator	BINDER	C150-UL
Kimwipes	KIMTECH	K222101
LABGARD Class II, Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinet	Nuaire	NU-425-400
LD Columns	Miltenyi Biotec GmBH	130-042-901
LSE Vortex Mixer	CORNING	6775
LSRII/Fortessa/Symphony A1	Becton, Dickinson and Company	647800L6
MACS MULTI STAND	Miltenyi Biotec GmBH	130-042-303
MACsmix Tube Rotator	Miltenyi Biotec GmBH	130-090-753
mIgG	Millipore-Sigma	18765-10mg	2 mg/mL
Nup98-HoxD13 (NHD13) Mice	Jackson Laboratory	010505
PE anti-mouse CD51 Antibody (RMV-7)	Biolegend	104106	0.2 mg/mL
PE/Cyanine5 anti-mouse CD140a Antibody (RUO)	Biolegend	135920	0.2 mg/mL
Penicillin-Streptomycin	Gibco	15140122	10,000 U/mL
Plastipak 3 mL Syringe	Becton, Dickinson and Company	309657
Propidium Iodide - 1.0 mg/mL Solution in Water	ThermoFisher Scientific	P3566
QuadroMACS  Separator	Miltenyi Biotec GmBH	130-090-976
Sorvall X Pro / ST Plus Series Centrifuge	Thermo Scientific	75009521
TER-119 Monoclonal Antibody (TER-119), APC	Invitrogen	17-5921-82	0.2 mg/mL
Trypan Blue Solution 0.4%	Gibco	15-250-061
Ultrapure 0.5 M EDTA, pH 8.0	Invitrogen	15575-038