Name: isolation and characterization of neutrophils with anti-tumor properties
Uploaded: 2015-06-19T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Characterization of Neutrophils with Anti-Tumor Properties at JoVE.com

ZG is supported by grants from the I-CORE Program of The Israel Science Foundation (Grant No. 41/11), the Abisch-Frenkel Foundation, the Rosetrees Trust, the Israel Cancer Research Foundation (ICRF - Research Career Development Award) and the CONCERN foundation. ZGF is supported by grants from the Israel Cancer Research Foundation (ICRF - Research Career Development Award), Chief Scientist of the Israel Ministry of Health and the Israel Lung Association.

Animals: 5-7 weeks old BALB/c mice are purchased from Harlan (Israel). All experiments involving animals were approved by the Hebrew University&#8217;s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Human samples: Collection of blood from cancer patients and healthy volunteers was approved by Hadassah Medical Center Institutional Review Board (IRB). &#160;
1. Induction of Neutrophils with Anti-tumor Properties in vivo Using a Breast Cancer Mouse Model.
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G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polarization+of+tumor-associated+neutrophil+phenotype+by+TGF-beta:+'N1'+versus+'N2.">Polarization of tumor-associated neutrophil phenotype by TGF-beta: 'N1' versus 'N2.</a> TAN. Cancer Cell. 16, 183-194 (2009).</li><li>Talmadge, J. E., Gabrilovich, D. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=History+of+myeloid-derived+suppressor+cells.">History of myeloid-derived suppressor cells.</a> Nat Rev Cancer. 13, 739-752 (2013).</li><li>Youn, J. I., Nagaraj, S., Collazo, M., Gabrilovich, D. 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A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neutrophil+chemokines+secreted+by+tumor+cells+mount+a+lung+antimetastatic+response+during+renal+cell+carcinoma+progression.">Neutrophil chemokines secreted by tumor cells mount a lung antimetastatic response during renal cell carcinoma progression.</a> Oncogene. 32, 1752-1760 (2013).</li><li>Boxio, R., Bossenmeyer-Pourie, C., Steinckwich, N., Dournon, C., Nusse, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mouse+bone+marrow+contains+large+numbers+of+functionally+competent+neutrophils.">Mouse bone marrow contains large numbers of functionally competent neutrophils.</a> J Leukoc Biol. 75, 604-611 (2004).</li><li>Sagiv, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phenotypic+Diversity+and+Plasticity+in+Circulating+Neutrophil+Subpopulations+in+Cancer.">Phenotypic Diversity and Plasticity in Circulating Neutrophil Subpopulations in Cancer.</a> Cell Reports. , (2015).</li></ol>

Neutrophils are the most abundant of all white blood cells and are the first responders in cases of infection and inflammation. As such, they are highly sensitive to external cues and are easily activated. In addition, neutrophils have a very short half-life and a rapid turnover. Together, these characteristics raise several difficulties in working with neutrophils, such that unique experimental strategies are required. For example, there are several neutrophil purification strategies, each with its own pros and cons.</p...

Neutrophils were initially characterized as the innate immune cells which serve as first line defense against invading microorganisms. Today it is known that neutrophils have more far-reaching functions, being involved in mounting adaptive immune responses against foreign antigens1,2, regulating hematopoiesis3, angiogenesis4 and wound healing5. In addition, neutrophils may affect tumor growth and metastatic progression by virtue of their pro- and anti-tumor activities6,7. Neutrophils are characterized by a polymorphic segmented nucleus (hence termed polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes) and contain at least three distinct subclasses of granules as well as secretory vesicles8 (Figure 1A-C).
Neutrophils possess high phagocytic capacity and high NADPH oxidase activity critical for microbial elimination, and secrete a wide range of chemokines important for attraction of additional neutrophils and other immune cells to the site of inflammation8,9. Neutrophils are characterized by the expression of a large amount of surface receptors including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), C-type Lectin Receptors (CLRs), complement receptor 3 (CD11b/CD18) and other adhesion molecules (e.g., L-selectin, LFA-1, VLA-4 and carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 3 (CEACAM3/CD66b)), chemokine receptors (e.g., CXCR1, CXCR2, CCR1, CCR2), chemoattractant receptors (e.g., PAFR, LTB4R and C5aR), cytokine receptors (e.g., G-CSFR, IL-1R, IL-4R, IL-12R, IL-18R, TNFR), formyl-peptide receptors (e.g., FPR1-3), and Fc receptors (e.g., CD16 (Fc&#947;RIII), CD32 (Fc&#947;RII), and CD64 (Fc&#947;RI)10. In mice, neutrophils are usually identified as CD11b+Ly6G+, whereas human neutrophils are identified using the CD11b, CD15, CD16 and CD66b leukocyte markers. It is also generally accepted to stain for the granule proteins myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE) for detection of neutrophils in tissues.
It is still unclear whether the diverse functions of neutrophils are mediated by the same cell or by distinct cell sub-populations. Accumulating data suggest for the presence of a heterogenic neutrophil population that exhibits a high degree of plasticity affected by pro-inflammatory stimuli and the microenvironment11,12. Fridlender et al.13 have grossly divided the neutrophils in cancer into two major sub-populations termed N1 with anti-tumor properties and N2 with pro-tumor properties. In cancer, as well as in chronic inflammation, there is an additional sub-population composed of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs) that suppress T cell responses14. G-MDSCs are considered to be immature myeloid cells characterized by a CD11b+Ly6ClowLy6Ghi phenotype in mice15, while having a CD15+/CD16low phenotype in human16. G-MDSCs express higher levels of arginase and myeloperoxidase, while lower levels of cytokines and chemokines than normal circulating neutrophils. They are less phagocytic and migratory, but produce higher levels of ROS15,17,18. In the present paper we will describe some basic methodologies for isolation and characterization of neutrophils with anti-tumor properties.
While neutrophils constitute the largest population of all white blood cells in the human circulation (45 - 70%; 1,800 - 6,000/&#956;l), in mice, under normal conditions, they are rather sparse (10 - 15%; 300 - 500/&#956;l). The neutrophil count increases steadily upon inflammation and occasionally in cancer, which represents a state of chronic inflammation7. Neutrophils develop from multipotent common myeloid precursor (CMP) cells in the bone marrow, through a differentiation process passing the stages of myeloblasts (MB), promyelocytes (PM), myelocytes (MC), metamyelocytes (MM) and band cells (BC)8. The mature, post-mitotic neutrophils may remain within the bone marrow for 4 - 7 days before they are released to the circulation8. Neutrophil turnover in the blood is usually rapid with an average half-life of 6 - 12 hrs, which may be prolonged under inflammatory conditions. Unstimulated neutrophils have limited anti-tumorigenic activity, a feature that can be acquired by exposing the na&#239;ve neutrophils to the chemokines IL-8 (CXCL2), CCL2, CCL5 and CXCL56,19 or artificially, by exposing them to the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)6.
The short half-life of blood neutrophils together with the low number of neutrophils (~ 3 - 5 x 105) achieved from 1 ml blood of a na&#239;ve 6 - 8 week old mouse, have made it difficult to explore the function of circulating mouse neutrophil in vitro. To overcome this difficulty, other sources have been used. For instance, large numbers of neutrophils may be obtained from the bone marrow20 or the peritoneum following the induction of sterile inflammation (e.g., after intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate broth or Zymosan A). It should be noted that neutrophils obtained from the peritoneal cavity do not exert any anti-tumorigenic activity (unpublished observation).
Granot et al.6 observed that BALB/c mice inoculated orthotopically with the mouse 4T1 breast carcinoma cell line develop neutrophilia which aggravates with tumor progression6 (Figure 2A), such that 20 - 40 million blood neutrophils can be easily isolated from 1 ml blood 3 - 4 weeks post-tumor inoculation. These neutrophils have acquired anti-tumor activities, and have accordingly been coined tumor-entrained neutrophils (TEN), in order to distinguish them from na&#239;ve neutrophils6 (Figure 2B). While high-density neutrophils (HDN, Figure 1A) are highly anti-tumorigenic, low-density neutrophils (LDN, Figure 1B) generated in the context of cancer are not21. Also, high-density neutrophils from the bone marrow and spleen of tumor-bearing mice have anti-tumor activity (unpublished data). It should be noted that with tumor progression the spleen becomes gradually enlarged (splenomegaly), with increasing amounts of neutrophils.
It should be noted that TEN are also generated in other models of cancer including both spontaneous (MMTV-PyMT and MMTV-Wnt1 mammary tumors and k-Ras driven lung tumors) and injected (AT-3 (MMTV-PyMT) and E0771 breast carcinoma cells, LLC Lewis lung carcinoma cells and B16-F10 melanoma cells). However, the extent of neutrophil mobilization in these tumor models is far less than of 4T1-inoculated mice, reaching 5 - 10 x 106 neutrophils in 1 ml blood after 3 weeks.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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			<td>CELL LINES</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse 4T1 breast carcinoma cells</td>
			<td>ADCC</td>
			<td>CRL-2539</td>
			<td>Growth medium: DMEM + 10 % heat-inactivated FBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
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			<td>PLASTIC WARES AND EQUIPMENTS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>24-well Tissue Culture Plate&#160;</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>353047</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>100 mm Tissue Culture Plate&#160;</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430167</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>25 cm2 Tissue Culture Flask</td>
			<td>Nunc</td>
			<td>156340</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>90 mm Bacterial Grade Culture Dish&#160;</td>
			<td>Miniplast, Ein Shemer, Israel</td>
			<td>20090-01-017</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 ml Sterile Conical Centrifuge Tube&#160;</td>
			<td>Miniplast, Ein Shemer, Israel</td>
			<td>835015-40-111</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 ml Sterile Conical Centrifuge Tube&#160;</td>
			<td>Miniplast, Ein Shemer, Israel</td>
			<td>835050-21-111</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Falcon 12x75 mm Round-Bottom Polystyrene Tube&#160;</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>352058</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Millicell 24 Migration Plate with a pore size of 5&#956;m&#160;</td>
			<td>Merck Millipore</td>
			<td>PSMT010R1</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>White 96-Flat-Bottom Well Plate&#160;</td>
			<td>Costar</td>
			<td>3917</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell Strainer (40 mm)&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Falcon</td>
			<td>352340</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20G 1.5&#34; Needle</td>
			<td>BD Microlance 3&#160;</td>
			<td>301300</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>23G 1&#34; Needle&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Microlance 4</td>
			<td>300800</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>25Gx5/8&#34; Needle&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Microlance 5</td>
			<td>300600</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.3 ml Syringe with a 30Gx8mm Needle</td>
			<td>BD Micro-Fine Plus Demi</td>
			<td>320829</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>9 mm Clips&#160;</td>
			<td>BD, AutoClip&#160;</td>
			<td>427631</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EasySep Magnet&#160;</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies</td>
			<td>18000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MACS LS Separation Column&#160;</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotech</td>
			<td>130-042-201</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MidiMACS Separator Magnet</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotech</td>
			<td>130-042-302</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MACS MultiStand</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotech</td>
			<td>130-042-303</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microscope Glass Slide&#160;</td>
			<td>Menzel-Gl&#228;ser Superfrost&#160; Plus Thermo</td>
			<td>J1800AMNZ</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Orbital Shaker&#160;</td>
			<td>Sky line, ELMI</td>
			<td>S-3.02.10L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plate Reader&#160;</td>
			<td>TECAN</td>
			<td>InfiniteF200Pro</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>POWDER</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin (BSA), fraction V</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A7906</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen</td>
			<td>550891</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CFSE (5-(and 6-)-Carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimidyl ester)</td>
			<td>Molecular Probes</td>
			<td>C1157</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dextran T500</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>31392</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heparin sodium salt from porcine intestinal mucosa&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>H3149</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium azide (NaN3)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S8032</td>
			<td>Highly toxic, handle with care</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thioglycollate powder&#160;</td>
			<td>Difco</td>
			<td>225650</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zymosan A</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>Z4250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MEDIA AND SUPPLEMENTS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s modified Eagle medium (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D5796</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Opti-MEM&#174; I reduced serum medium&#160;</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>31985062</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI)-1640 medium</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>R8758</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Foetal bovine serum (FBS), heat-inactivated</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>F9665</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamine</td>
			<td>Biological Industries, Beth HaEmek, Israel</td>
			<td>03-020-1A</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium pyruvate</td>
			<td>Biological Industries, Beth HaEmek, Israel</td>
			<td>03-042-1B</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin Streptomycin x1000 solution</td>
			<td>Biological Industries, Beth HaEmek, Israel</td>
			<td>03-031-5</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) without Mg2+ and Ca2+&#160;</td>
			<td>Biological Industries, Beth HaEmek, Israel</td>
			<td>02-023-1</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBSx10 without Ca2+ and Mg2+&#160;</td>
			<td>Biological Industries, Beth HaEmek, Israel</td>
			<td>02-023-5A</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HPLC grade water&#160;</td>
			<td>J.T. Baker</td>
			<td>4218-03</td>
			<td>Autoclave</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SOLUTIONS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ACK &#8211; Ammonium-Chloride-Potassium</td>
			<td>Life Technologies&#160;</td>
			<td>A10492-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) solution (10 mg/ml) in PBS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 10 mg of BrdU in 1 ml PBS and sterile filter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CFSE, 5 mM in DMSO</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 2.8 mg of CFSE in 1 ml DMSO. Divide into 10 ml aliquots in sterile 200 ml tubes and store in the dark at -20oC.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Eosin Y solution</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>HT110-2-32</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hanks&#39; balanced salt solution</td>
			<td>Biological Industries, Beth HaEmek, Israel</td>
			<td>02-016-1A</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heparin, 20 mg/ml in PBS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 100 mg Heparin in 5 ml sterile PBS, and sterile filter through a 0.2 mm filter.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Histopaque-1119&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>11191</td>
			<td>Sterile filter through a 0.2 mm filter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Histopaque-1077&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>10771</td>
			<td>Sterile filter through a 0.2 mm filter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#160;Luciferase cell culture lysis buffer x5</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>E153A</td>
			<td>Dilute 1:5 in sterile water just before use.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Luciferase assay solution</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>E1501</td>
			<td>Contains luciferase assay substrate powder (E151A) and luciferase assay buffer (E152A)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mayer&#39;s Hematoxylin solution&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>MHS-32</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS+0.5% BSA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 2.5g BSA in 500 ml PBS, and sterile filter through a 0.2 mm filter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS+1% BSA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 1g BSA in 100 ml PBS, and sterile filter through a 0.2 mm filter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5x PBS with 2.5% BSA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Dissolve 12.5g BSA in a mixture of 250 ml sterile HPLC-grade water&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; and 250 ml PBSx10, and sterile filter through a 0.2 mm filter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS containing 0.5% BSA and 2 mM EDTA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Dissolve 250 mg BSA in 50 ml sterile PBS&#160; and add 200 ml of 0.5M EDTA pH 8.0, sterile filter through a 0.2 mm filter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FACS buffer (PBS containing 0.5% BSA, 2 mM EDTA and 0.02% NaN3)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Dissolve 250 mg BSA in 50 ml sterile PBS&#160; and add 200 ml of 0.5M EDTA pH 8.0 and 500 ml of 2% NaN3, sterile filter through a 0.2 mm filter.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Saline (0.9% NaCl)</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 9 g NaCl in 1000 ml ddw, autoclave</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.2% NaCl solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 2 g NaCl in 1000 ml ddw, autoclave</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.6% NaCl solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 16 g NaCl in 1000 ml ddw, autoclave</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2 % Sodium azide</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Dissolve 1g sodium azide in 50 ml sterile ddw, keep at 4oC. Highly toxic.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3% Thioglycollate solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Dissolve 3 g of thioglycollate powder in 100 ml ddw.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Boil until solution becomes yellow and autoclave.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan blue solution (0.4%)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T8154</td>
			<td>Dilute 1:10 in PBS to get a 0.04% solution.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin solution B&#160;</td>
			<td>Biological Industries, Beth HaEmek, Israel</td>
			<td>03-046-1</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 mg/ml Zymosan A</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Resuspend 1 mg Zymosan A&#160; in 1 ml sterile PBS in an Eppendorf tube.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Vortex vigorously and incubate the tube at 37 oC for 30 min. Do not autoclave.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Prepare the solution freshly before use.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KITS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EasySep PE selection kit</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies</td>
			<td>18557</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EasySep PE selection cocktail&#160;</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies</td>
			<td>18151</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>the EasySep magnetic nanoparticles&#160;</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies</td>
			<td>18150</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Ly6G mouse MicroBead Kit</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-092-332</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EasySep Mouse Neutrophil Enrichment Kit</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies</td>
			<td>19762</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EasySep Human Neutrophil Enrichment Kit</td>
			<td>STEMCELL Technologies</td>
			<td>19257</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FITC BrdU flow kit</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen&#160;</td>
			<td>559619</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MACS Neutrophil isolation kit</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-097-658</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phagocytosis Assay Kit&#160;</td>
			<td>Cayman Chemical Company&#160;</td>
			<td>500290</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ANTIBODIES</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FcR blocking antibody&#160;</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>101302</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Purified rat anti-Ly6G antibody&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen&#160;</td>
			<td>551459</td>
			<td>Clone 1A8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PE-conjugated rat anti-mouse Ly6G antibody&#160;</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>127608</td>
			<td>Clone 1A8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FITC-conjugated rat anti-mouse Ly6G</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen&#160;</td>
			<td>551460</td>
			<td>Clone 1A8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PerCP-Cy5.5 rat anti-mouse Ly6G&#160;</td>
			<td>TONBO Biosciences</td>
			<td>65-1276</td>
			<td>Clone 1A8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>violetFluor 450-conjugated rat anti-mouse Ly6G&#160;</td>
			<td>TONBO Biosciences</td>
			<td>75-1276</td>
			<td>Clone 1A8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FITC-conjugated rat anti-mouse CD11b</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen&#160;</td>
			<td>553310</td>
			<td>Clone M1/70</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FITC-conjugated rat anti-mouse Ly-6G and Ly-6C (GR-1)</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen&#160;</td>
			<td>553127</td>
			<td>Clone RB6-8C5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PE-conjugated rat anti-mouse CD45</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen&#160;</td>
			<td>553081</td>
			<td>Clone 30-F11</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FITC-conjugated rat anti-mouse F4/80&#160;</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab60343</td>
			<td>Clone BM8</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FITC-conjugated mouse anti-human CD66b&#160;</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>305103</td>
			<td>Clone G10F5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Purified rat isotype control antibody (IgG2a, k)&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Pharmingen&#160;</td>
			<td>553927</td>
			<td>Clone R35-95</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LEAF purified Armenian hamster anti-mouse CD3e antibody</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>100314</td>
			<td>Clone 145-2C11</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation and characterization of neutrophils with anti-tumor properties

Neutrophils, the most abundant of all white blood cells in the human circulation, play an important role in the host defense against invading microorganisms. In addition, neutrophils play a central role in the immune surveillance of tumor cells. They have the ability to recognize tumor cells and induce tumor cell death either through a cell contact-dependent mechanism involving hydrogen peroxide or through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Neutrophils with anti-tumor activity can be isolated from peripheral blood of cancer patients and of tumor-bearing mice. These neutrophils are termed tumor-entrained neutrophils (TEN) to distinguish them from neutrophils of healthy subjects or na&#239;ve mice that show no significant tumor cytotoxic activity. Compared with other white blood cells, neutrophils show different buoyancy making it feasible to obtain a &#62; 98% pure neutrophil population when subjected to a density gradient. However, in addition to the normal high-density neutrophil population (HDN), in cancer patients, in tumor-bearing mice, as well as under chronic inflammatory conditions, distinct low-density neutrophil populations (LDN) appear in the circulation. LDN co-purify with the mononuclear fraction and can be separated from mononuclear cells using either positive or negative selection strategies. Once the purity of the isolated neutrophils is determined by flow cytometry, they can be used for in vitro and in vivo functional assays. We describe techniques for monitoring the anti-tumor activity of neutrophils, their ability to migrate and to produce reactive oxygen species, as well as monitoring their phagocytic capacity ex vivo. We further describe techniques to label the neutrophils for in vivo tracking, and to determine their anti-metastatic capacity in vivo. All these techniques are essential for understanding how to obtain and characterize neutrophils with anti-tumor function.

In a recent study we identified an anti-metastatic function for neutrophils6. Neutrophils from tumor-bearing mice acquire a cytotoxic phenotype and have the capacity to kill tumor cells6. This is in contrast to neutrophils from na&#239;ve mice that have no significant anti-tumor effect6. Several of the techniques described in the Protocol Section have been used for studying anti-tumor neutrophil function in vitro and in vivo6.
Tumor...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Characterization of Neutrophils with Anti-Tumor Properties at JoVE.com

Isolation and Characterization of Neutrophils with Anti-Tumor Properties

Neutrophils play an important role not only in host defense against invading microorganisms, but are also involved in the immune surveillance of tumor cells. Here, we describe techniques related to the isolation of neutrophils with anti-tumor properties and methods for monitoring anti-tumor neutrophil function in vitro and in vivo.

Neutrophils, the most abundant of all white blood cells in the human circulation, play an important role in the host defense against invading ...

isolation-characterization-neutrophils-with-anti-tumor

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency

RNA viruses use RNA dependent RNA polymerases to replicate their genomes. The intrinsically high error rate of these enzymes is a large contributor to the generation of extreme population diversity that facilitates virus adaptation and evolution. Increasing evidence shows that the intrinsic error rates, and the resulting mutation frequencies, of RNA viruses can be modulated by subtle amino acid changes to the viral polymerase. Although biochemical assays exist for some viral RNA polymerases that permit quantitative measure of incorporation fidelity, here we describe a simple method of measuring mutation frequencies of RNA viruses that has proven to be as accurate as biochemical approaches in identifying fidelity altering mutations. The approach uses conventional virological and sequencing techniques that can be performed in most biology laboratories. Based on our experience with a number of different viruses, we have identified the key steps that must be optimized to increase the likelihood of isolating fidelity variants and generating data of statistical significance. The isolation and characterization of fidelity altering mutations can provide new insights into polymerase structure and function1-3. Furthermore, these fidelity variants can be useful tools in characterizing mechanisms of virus adaptation and evolution4-7.

The present article describes the steps required to isolate and characterize RNA polymerase fidelity variants of RNA viruses and how to use mutation frequency data to confirm fidelity changes in tissue culture.

RNA viruses use RNA dependent RNA polymerases to replicate their genomes. The intrinsically high error rate of these enzymes is a large contributor to the ...

Isolation and Characterization of Dendritic Cells and Macrophages from the Mouse Intestine

Within the intestine reside unique populations of innate and adaptive immune cells that are involved in promoting tolerance towards commensal flora and food antigens while concomitantly remaining poised to mount inflammatory responses toward invasive pathogens1,2. Antigen presenting cells, particularly DCs and macrophages, play critical roles in maintaining intestinal immune homeostasis via their ability to sense and appropriately respond to the microbiota3-14. Efficient isolation of intestinal DCs and macrophages is a critical step in characterizing the phenotype and function of these cells. While many effective methods of isolating intestinal immune cells, including DCs and macrophages, have been described6,10,15-24, many rely upon long digestions times that may negatively influence cell surface antigen expression, cell viability, and/or cell yield. Here, we detail a methodology for the rapid isolation of large numbers of viable, intestinal DCs and macrophages. Phenotypic characterization of intestinal DCs and macrophages is carried out by directly staining isolated intestinal cells with specific fluorescence-labeled monoclonal antibodies for multi-color flow cytometric analysis. Furthermore, highly pure DC and macrophage populations are isolated for functional studies utilizing CD11c and CD11b magnetic-activated cell sorting beads followed by cell sorting.

Here, we detail a methodology for the rapid isolation of mouse intestinal dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. Phenotypic characterization of intestinal DCs and macrophages is performed using multi-color flow cytometric analysis while magnetic bead enrichment followed by cell sorting is used to yield highly pure populations for functional studies.

Within the intestine reside unique populations of innate and adaptive immune cells that are involved in promoting tolerance towards commensal flora and ...

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae is a prerequisite to invasion to the lungs or bloodstream1. This organism is capable of colonizing the mucosal surface of the nasopharynx, where it can reside, multiply and eventually overcome host defences to invade to other tissues of the host. Establishment of an infection in the normally lower respiratory tract results in pneumonia. Alternatively, the bacteria can disseminate into the bloodstream causing bacteraemia, which is associated with high mortality rates2, or else lead directly to the development of pneumococcal meningitis. Understanding the kinetics of, and immune responses to, nasopharyngeal colonization is an important aspect of S. pneumoniae infection models.
Our mouse model of intranasal colonization is adapted from human models3 and has been used by multiple research groups in the study of host-pathogen responses in the nasopharynx4-7. In the first part of the model, we use a clinical isolate of S. pneumoniae to establish a self-limiting bacterial colonization that is similar to carriage events in human adults. The procedure detailed herein involves preparation of a bacterial inoculum, followed by the establishment of a colonization event through delivery of the inoculum via an intranasal route of administration. Resident macrophages are the predominant cell type in the nasopharynx during the steady state. Typically, there are few lymphocytes present in uninfected mice8, however mucosal colonization will lead to low- to high-grade inflammation (depending on the virulence of the bacterial species and strain) that will result in an immune response and the subsequent recruitment of host immune cells. These cells can be isolated by a lavage of the tracheal contents through the nares, and correlated to the density of colonization bacteria to better understand the kinetics of the infection.

Characterization of Inflammatory Responses During Intranasal Colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Colonization of the murine nasopharynx with Streptococcus pneumoniae and the subsequent extraction of adherent or recruited cells is described. This technique involves flushing the nasopharynx and collection of the fluid through the nares and is adaptable for various readouts, including differential cell quantification and analysis of mRNA expression in situ.

Nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae is a prerequisite to invasion to the lungs or bloodstream1. This organism is capable of colonizing ...

Isolation, Purification and Labeling of Mouse Bone Marrow Neutrophils for Functional Studies and Adoptive Transfer Experiments

Neutrophils are critical effector cells of the innate immune system. They are rapidly recruited at sites of acute inflammation and exert protective or pathogenic effects depending on the inflammatory milieu. Nonetheless, despite the indispensable role of neutrophils in immunity, detailed understanding of the molecular factors that mediate neutrophils' effector and immunopathogenic effects in different infectious diseases and inflammatory conditions is still lacking, partly because of their short half life, the difficulties with handling of these cells and the lack of reliable experimental protocols for obtaining sufficient numbers of neutrophils for downstream functional studies and adoptive transfer experiments. Therefore, simple, fast, economical and reliable methods are highly desirable for harvesting sufficient numbers of mouse neutrophils for assessing functions such as phagocytosis, killing, cytokine production, degranulation and trafficking. To that end, we present a reproducible density gradient centrifugation-based protocol, which can be adapted in any laboratory to isolate large numbers of neutrophils from the bone marrow of mice with high purity and viability. Moreover, we present a simple protocol that uses CellTracker dyes to label the isolated neutrophils, which can then be adoptively transferred into recipient mice and tracked in several tissues for at least 4 hr post-transfer using flow cytometry. Using this approach, differential labeling of neutrophils from wild-type and gene-deficient mice with different CellTracker dyes can be successfully employed to perform competitive repopulation studies for evaluating the direct role of specific genes in trafficking of neutrophils from the blood into target tissues in vivo.

We describe a protocol for isolation and purification of neutrophils from mouse bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation and for neutrophil labeling using CellTracker dyes. This represents a simple, fast, reproducible and economical method for obtaining large numbers of neutrophils for downstream functional studies or adoptive transfer and tracking experiments.

Neutrophils are critical effector cells of the innate immune system. They are rapidly recruited at sites of acute inflammation and exert protective or ...

Studying Interactions of Staphylococcus aureus with Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry and Time Lapse Microscopy

We present methods to study the effect of phenol soluble modulins (PSMs) and other toxins produced and secreted by Staphylococcus aureus on neutrophils. To study the effects of the PSMs on neutrophils we isolate fresh neutrophils using density gradient centrifugation. These neutrophils are loaded with a dye that fluoresces upon calcium mobilization. The activation of neutrophils by PSMs initiates a rapid and transient increase in the free intracellular calcium concentration. In a flow cytometry experiment this rapid mobilization can be measured by monitoring the fluorescence of a pre-loaded dye that reacts to the increased concentration of free Ca2+. Using this method we can determine the PSM concentration necessary to activate the neutrophil, and measure the effects of specific and general inhibitors of the neutrophil activation.	
	To investigate the expression of the PSMs in the intracellular space, we have constructed reporter fusions of the promoter of the PSM&alpha; operon to GFP. When these reporter strains of S. aureus are phagocytosed by neutrophils, the induction of expression can be observed using fluorescence microscopy.

Studying Interactions of Staphylococcus aureus with Neutrophils by Flow Cytometry and Time Lapse Microscopy

We present methods to study the effect of PSMs and other toxins secreted by Staphylococcus aureus on neutrophils using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy.

We present methods to study the effect of phenol soluble modulins (PSMs)  and other toxins produced and secreted by Staphylococcus  aureus on neutrophils. ...

Isolation, Characterization and Functional Examination of the Gingival Immune Cell Network

Immune cell networks in tissues play a vital role in mediating local immunity and maintaining tissue homeostasis, yet little is known of the resident immune cell populations in the oral mucosa and gingiva. We have established a technique for the isolation and study of immune cells from murine gingival tissues, an area of constant microbial exposure and a vulnerable site to a common inflammatory disease, periodontitis. Our protocol allows for a detailed phenotypic characterization of the immune cell populations resident in the gingiva, even at steady state. Our procedure also yields sufficient cells with high viability for use in functional studies, such as the assessment of cytokine secretion ex vivo. This combination of phenotypic and functional characterization of the gingival immune cell network should aid towards investigating the mechanisms involved in oral immunity and periodontal homeostasis, but will also advance our understanding of the mechanisms involved in local immunopathology.

We have established a technique for the isolation, phenotypic characterization and functional analysis of immune cells from murine gingiva.

Immune cell networks in tissues play a vital role in mediating local immunity and maintaining tissue homeostasis, yet little is known of the resident ...

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes

The intestines &#8212; which contain the largest number of immune cells of any organ in the body &#8212; are constantly exposed to foreign antigens, both microbial and dietary. Given an increasing understanding that these luminal antigens help shape the immune response and that education of immune cells within the intestine is critical for a number of systemic diseases, there has been increased interest in characterizing the intestinal immune system. However, many published protocols are arduous and time-consuming. We present here a simplified protocol for the isolation of lymphocytes from the small-intestinal lamina propria, intraepithelial layer, and Peyer&#39;s patches that is rapid, reproducible, and does not require laborious Percoll gradients. Although the protocol focuses on the small intestine, it is also suitable for analysis of the colon. Moreover, we highlight some aspects that may need additional optimization depending on the specific scientific question. This approach results in the isolation of large numbers of viable lymphocytes that can subsequently be used for flow cytometric analysis or alternate means of characterization.

There is growing interest in the quantitative characterization of intestinal lymphocytes owing to increasing recognition that these cells play a critical role in a variety of intestinal and systemic diseases. In this protocol, we describe how to isolate single cell populations from different small-intestinal compartments for subsequent flow cytometric characterization.

The intestines &#8212; which contain the largest number of immune cells of any organ in the body &#8212; are constantly exposed to foreign antigens, both ...

Analysis of Lymphocyte Extravasation Using an In Vitro Model of the Human Blood-brain Barrier

Lymphocyte extravasation into the central nervous system (CNS) is critical for immune surveillance. Disease-related alterations of lymphocyte extravasation might result in pathophysiological changes in the CNS. Thus, investigation of lymphocyte migration into the CNS is important to understand inflammatory CNS diseases and to develop new therapy approaches. Here we present an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier to study lymphocyte extravasation. Human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) are confluently grown on a porous polyethylene terephthalate transwell insert to mimic the endothelium of the blood-brain barrier. Barrier function is validated by zonula occludens immunohistochemistry, transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements as well as analysis of evans blue permeation. This model allows investigation of the diapedesis of rare lymphocyte subsets such as CD56brightCD16dim/- NK cells. Furthermore, the effects of other cells, cytokines and chemokines, disease-related alterations, and distinct treatment regimens on the migratory capacity of lymphocytes can be studied. Finally, the impact of inflammatory stimuli as well as different treatment regimens on the endothelial barrier can be analyzed.

Analysis of Lymphocyte Extravasation Using an In Vitro Model of the Human Blood-brain Barrier

Here, we describe a human blood-brain barrier model enabling to investigate lymphocyte transmigration into the central nervous system in vitro.

Lymphocyte extravasation into the central nervous system (CNS) is critical for immune surveillance. Disease-related alterations of lymphocyte ...

Isolation and Characterization of Neutrophil-derived Microparticles for Functional Studies

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil-derived microparticles (PMN)-MPs) are lipid bilayer, spherical microvesicles with sizes ranging from 50&#8211;1,000 nm in diameter. MPs are a newly evolving, important part of cell-to-cell communication and signaling machinery. Because of their size and the nature of their release, until recently MP existence was overlooked. However, with improved technology and analytical methods their function in health and disease is now emerging. The protocols presented here are aimed at isolating and characterizing PMN-MPs by flow cytometry and immunoblotting. Moreover, several implementation examples are given. These protocols for MP isolation are fast, low-cost, and do not require the use of expensive kits. Furthermore, they allow for the labeling of MPs following isolation, as well as pre-labeling of source cells prior to MP release, using a membrane-specific fluorescent dye for visualization and analysis by flow cytometry. These methods, however, have several limitations including purity of PMNs and MPs and the need for sophisticated analytical instrumentation. A high-end flow cytometer is needed to reliably analyze MPs and minimize false positive reads due to noise or auto-fluorescence. The described protocols can be used to isolate and define MP biogenesis, and characterize their markers and variation in composition under different stimulating conditions. Size heterogeneity can be exploited to investigate whether the content of membrane particles versus exosomes is different, and whether they fulfill different roles in tissue homeostasis. Finally, following isolation and characterization of MPs, their function in cellular responses and various disease models (including, PMN-associated inflammatory disorders, such as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases or Acute Lung Injury) can be explored.

New protocols are described here to isolate and characterize microparticles derived from human and mouse neutrophils. These protocols utilize ultracentrifugation, flow cytometry, and immunoblotting techniques to analyze microparticle content, and they can be used to study the role of microparticles derived from various cell types in cellular function.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil-derived microparticles (PMN)-MPs) are lipid bilayer, spherical microvesicles with sizes ranging from 50&#8211;1,000 nm in ...

Isolation of Peritoneum-derived Mast Cells and Their Functional Characterization with Ca2+-imaging and Degranulation Assays

Mast cells (MCs), as a part of the immune system, play a key role in defending the host against several pathogens and in the initiation of the allergic immune response. The activation of MCs via the cross-linking of surface IgE bound to high affinity IgE receptor (Fc&#949;RI), as well as through the stimulation of several other receptors, initiates the rise of the free intracellular Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) that promotes the release of inflammatory and allergic mediators. The identification of molecular constituents involved in these signaling pathways is crucial for understanding the regulation of MC function. In this article, we describe a protocol for the isolation of murine connective tissue type MCs by peritoneal lavage and cultivation of peritoneal MCs (PMCs). Cultures of MCs from various knockout mouse models by this methodology represent a useful approach to the identification of proteins involved in MC signaling pathways. In addition, we also describe a protocol for single cell Fura-2 imaging as an important technique for the quantification of Ca2+ signaling in MCs. Fluorescence-based monitoring of [Ca2+]i is a reliable and commonly used approach to study Ca2+ signaling events, including store-operated calcium entry, which is of utmost importance for MC activation. For the analysis of MC degranulation, we describe a &#946;-hexosaminidase release assay. The amount of &#946;-hexosaminidase released into the culture medium is considered as a degranulation marker for all three different secretory subsets described in MCs. &#946;-hexosaminidase can easily be quantified by its reaction with a colorigenic substrate in a microtiter plate colorimetric assay. This highly reproducible technique is cost-effective and requires no specialized equipment. Overall, the provided protocol demonstrates a high yield of MCs expressing typical MC surface markers, displaying typical morphological and phenotypic features of MCs, and demonstrating highly reproducible responses to secretagogues in Ca2+-imaging and degranulation assays.

Isolation of Peritoneum-derived Mast Cells and Their Functional Characterization with Ca2+-imaging and Degranulation Assays

Here, we present a protocol to isolate and cultivate murine peritoneal mast cells. We also describe two protocols for their functional characterization: a fluorescent imaging of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and a degranulation assay based on colorimetric quantification of the released &#946;-hexosaminidase.

Mast cells (MCs), as a part of the immune system, play a key role in defending the host against several pathogens and in the initiation of the allergic ...