Name: 3d analysis of multi-cellular responses to chemoattractant gradients
Uploaded: 2019-05-24T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about 3D Analysis of Multi-cellular Responses to Chemoattractant Gradients at JoVE.com

This work was supported by grants to AJE (NSF PD-11-7246, Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF-17-048), and NCI U54 CA210173) and AL (U54CA209992).

All animal work was conducted in accordance with protocols reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine.
1. Fabrication of the mesofluidic device
<ol>
	<li>Design the mask of the mold for PDMS device using a 3D CAD software.</li>
	<li>Print the mold using stereolithography equipment with a thermal resistant resin. 
	NOTE: The procedures described here were carried out by a commercial 3D printing service.</li>
	<li...

<ol>
	<li>Humphrey, J. D., Dufresne, E. R., Schwartz, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanotransduction+and+extracellular+matrix+homeostasis.">Mechanotransduction and extracellular matrix homeostasis.</a> Nature Reviews: Molecular Cell Biology. 15 (12), 802-812 (2014).</li><li>Schwartz, M. A., Schaller, M. D., Ginsberg, M. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Integrins:+emerging+paradigms+of+signal+transduction.">Integrins: emerging paradigms of signal transduction.</a> Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 11, 549-599 (1995).</li><li>Yin, X., 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=Engineering+Stem+Cell+Organoids.">Engineering Stem Cell Organoids.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 18 (1), 25-38 (2016).</li><li>Doyle, A. D., Carvajal, N., Jin, A., Matsumoto, K., Yamada, K. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Local+3D+matrix+microenvironment+regulates+cell+migration+through+spatiotemporal+dynamics+of+contractility-dependent+adhesions.">Local 3D matrix microenvironment regulates cell migration through spatiotemporal dynamics of contractility-dependent adhesions.</a> Nature Communications. 6, 8720 (2015).</li><li>Meyvantsson, I., Beebe, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+culture+models+in+microfluidic+systems.">Cell culture models in microfluidic systems.</a> Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry (Palo Alto, Calif). 1, 423-449 (2008).</li><li>Bhatia, S. N., Ingber, D. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microfluidic+organs-on-chips.">Microfluidic organs-on-chips.</a> Nature Biotechnology. 32 (8), 760-772 (2014).</li><li>Zervantonakis, I. K., 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=Three-dimensional+microfluidic+model+for+tumor+cell+intravasation+and+endothelial+barrier+function.">Three-dimensional microfluidic model for tumor cell intravasation and endothelial barrier function.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109 (34), 13515-13520 (2012).</li><li>Barkefors, I., Thorslund, S., Nikolajeff, F., Kreuger, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+fluidic+device+to+study+directional+angiogenesis+in+complex+tissue+and+organ+culture+models.">A fluidic device to study directional angiogenesis in complex tissue and organ culture models.</a> Lab on a Chip. 9 (4), 529-535 (2009).</li><li>Hou, Z., 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=Time+lapse+investigation+of+antibiotic+susceptibility+using+a+microfluidic+linear+gradient+3D+culture+device.">Time lapse investigation of antibiotic susceptibility using a microfluidic linear gradient 3D culture device.</a> Lab on a Chip. 14 (17), 3409-3418 (2014).</li><li>Ellison, D., 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=Cell-cell+communication+enhances+the+capacity+of+cell+ensembles+to+sense+shallow+gradients+during+morphogenesis.">Cell-cell communication enhances the capacity of cell ensembles to sense shallow gradients during morphogenesis.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 113 (6), E679-E688 (2016).</li><li>Nguyen-Ngoc, K. V., 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=3D+culture+assays+of+murine+mammary+branching+morphogenesis+and+epithelial+invasion.">3D culture assays of murine mammary branching morphogenesis and epithelial invasion.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 1189, 135-162 (2015).</li></ol>

The fabrication of PDMS molds was performed using a commercial 3D printing service, but can also be accomplished by a high end 3D printer in-house. Among various 3D fabrication methods, stereolithography is recommended for high resolution mold generation. Because PDMS curing occurs at a high temperature (80 &#176;C), the materials should be sufficiently thermally resistant, which should be explicitly specified, if printing is outsourced. A thermal post-cure can be discussed with the printing service company to increase t...

In physiological environment, cells are embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) and exposed to a plethora of biomolecules. Interactions between cells and the surrounding microenvironment regulate intracellular processes controlling diverse phenotypes, including migration, growth, differentiation and survival1,2. Much has been learned about cellular behaviors in a conventional 2D cell culture. However, with the advent of intravital imaging and experimentation with cells embedded in 3D hydrogels, important differences in cell behaviors have been recognized in the simplified 2D in vitro cultures vs. 3D tissue-like environments. While cells interact with ECM fibers and sense their mechanical properties within the 3D matrix, the material stiffness of the gel is not a fully independent variable in a 2D in vitro system. The dimensionality alters focal adhesion formation, resulting in different cell morphology and behavior. Furthermore, cells on a 2D surface are exposed to fewer signaling cues than cells open to all directions in 3D.
These limitations have increased the interests for 3D systems that represent the spatial and chemical complexity of living tissues and better predict in vivo tissue functions. They have been developed in many forms from organoids as self-assembling cellular microstructures to cells randomly interspersed in ECM3,4. Recent advances in microfabrication technologies have facilitated the advent of various types of 3D culture systems5,6,7,8,9 for studying phenotypic changes and cellular responses to soluble signals; however, technological barriers limit the widespread use in research laboratories. In many cases, the fabrication processes require photolithography techniques and background knowledges for soft lithography. Moreover, various factors must be controlled to successfully build a device and to achieve an optimal function of the device over a long period of time.
Our method describes how to construct a 3D PDMS device for incorporating cells and multicellular organoids into a 3D microenvironment with defined chemoattractant gradients and then analyze epithelial responses to EGF10. Our data reveal that the capacity of organoids to respond to shallow EGF gradients arises from intercellular chemical coupling through gap junctions. It suggests the potential of organoids for more precise detection of weak and noisy spatially graded inputs. The fabrication process does not require a cleanroom facility nor photolithography techniques. However, the 3D PDMS device includes necessary factors of 3D physiological environment. This method will be helpful to study 3D cellular behaviors and it has great research potential with different cell types, chemoattractants, and ECM combinations.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:773px;" width="773">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">22mm x 22mm coverslip&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">12-542-B</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Collagen I, Rat</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">CB-40236</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Collagenease</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">C5138</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">COMSOL Multiphysics 4.2</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">COMSOL Inc</td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td>Used for simulating diffusion dynamics</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">10x DMEM</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D2429</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">DEME/F12</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>11330032</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">DNase</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">D4623</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:199px;">EGF Recombinant Mouse Protein</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">PMG8041</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Life technologies</td>
			<td>16140-071</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Fiji-ImageJ</td>
			<td style="width:171px;"></td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td>Used for measuring branching length and angles</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Gentamicin</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">GIBCO&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">5750-060</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">IMARIS</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Bitplane</td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Insulin</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">19278</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:199px;">Insulin-Transferrin-Selenium-X</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">GIBCO&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">51500</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:199px;">Low-lint tissue</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Kimberly-Clark Professional</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Kimtech wipe</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Mold Material</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Proto labs</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Accura SL5530&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:199px;">Mold printing equipment</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Proto labs</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Stereolithogrphy</td>
			<td style="width:269px;">Maximum dimension: 127mm x 127mm x 63.5mm, Layer thnickness: 0.0254mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Mold printing Service</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Proto labs</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Custom</td>
			<td style="width:269px;">https://www.protolabs.com/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">NaOH</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S2770</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">VWR</td>
			<td>16777-164P</td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:199px;">Spinning-disk confocal microscope</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Solamere Technology Group</td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td style="width:269px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:199px;">Sylgard 184</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>184 SIL ELAST KIT&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:269px;">PDMS kit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;width:199px;">Trypsin</td>
			<td style="width:171px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T9935</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

3d analysis of multi-cellular responses to chemoattractant gradients

Various limitations of 2D cell culture systems have sparked interest in 3D cell culture and analysis platforms, which would better mimic the spatial and chemical complexity of living tissues and mimic in vivo tissue functions. Recent advances in microfabrication technologies have facilitated the development of 3D in vitro environments in which cells can be integrated into a well-defined extracellular matrix (ECM) and a defined set of soluble or matrix associated biomolecules. However, technological barriers have limited their widespread use in research laboratories. Here, we describe a method to construct simple devices for 3D culture and experimentation with cells and multicellular organoids in 3D microenvironments with a defined chemoattractant gradient. We illustrate the use of this platform for analysis of the response of epithelial cells and organoids to gradients of growth factors, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF gradients were stable in the devices for several days leading to directed branch formation in breast organoids. This analysis allowed us to conclude that collective gradient sensing by groups of cells is more sensitive vs. single cells. We also describe the fabrication method, which does not require photolithography facilities nor advanced soft lithography techniques. This method will be helpful to study 3D cellular behaviors in the context of the analysis of development and pathological states, including cancer.

EGF is an essential regulator of branching morphogenesis in mammary glands and a critical chemoattractant guiding the migration of breast epithelial cells in invasive cancer growth. We used the mesoscopic fluidic devices described above to study the response of cells to defined EGF gradients (Figure 1A,B)10. The device yields a culture area 5 mm wide, 10 mm long, and 1 mm tall. The sides of the culture area are separat...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about 3D Analysis of Multi-cellular Responses to Chemoattractant Gradients at JoVE.com

3D Analysis of Multi-cellular Responses to Chemoattractant Gradients

We describe a method to construct devices for 3D culture and experimentation with cells and multicellular organoids. This device allows analysis of cellular responses to soluble signals in 3D microenvironments with defined chemoattractant gradients. Organoids are better than single cells at detection of weak noisy inputs.

Various limitations of 2D cell culture systems have sparked interest in 3D cell culture and analysis platforms, which would better mimic the spatial and ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

Design of a Cyclic Pressure Bioreactor for the Ex Vivo Study of Aortic Heart Valves

Design of a Cyclic Pressure Bioreactor for the Ex Vivo Study of Aortic Heart Valves

The aortic valve, located between the left ventricle and the aorta, allows for unidirectional blood flow, preventing backflow into the ventricle. Aortic ...

Creating Adhesive and Soluble Gradients for Imaging Cell Migration with Fluorescence Microscopy

Cells can sense and migrate towards higher concentrations of adhesive cues such as the glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix and soluble cues such as ...

Correlative Microscopy for 3D Structural Analysis of Dynamic Interactions

Cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) allows 3D visualization of cellular structures at molecular resolution in a close-to-physiological state1. However, ...

Multi-Scale Modification of Metallic Implants With Pore Gradients, Polyelectrolytes and Their Indirect Monitoring In vivo

Multi-Scale Modification of Metallic Implants With Pore Gradients, Polyelectrolytes and Their Indirect Monitoring In vivo

Metallic implants, especially titanium implants, are widely used in  clinical applications. Tissue in-growth and integration to these implants in  the ...

A Method for Evaluating Timeliness and Accuracy of Volitional Motor Responses to Vibrotactile Stimuli

Artificial sensory feedback (ASF) systems can be used to compensate for lost proprioception in individuals with lower-limb impairments.  Effective design ...

Polydimethylsiloxane-polycarbonate Microfluidic Devices for Cell Migration Studies Under Perpendicular Chemical and Oxygen Gradients

This paper reports a microfluidic device made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with an embedded polycarbonate (PC) thin film to study cell migration under ...

Bioprinting of Cartilage and Skin Tissue Analogs Utilizing a Novel Passive Mixing Unit Technique for Bioink Precellularization

Bioprinting is a powerful technique for the rapid and reproducible fabrication of constructs for tissue engineering applications. In this study, both ...

Four-Dimensional CT Analysis Using Sequential 3D-3D Registration

Four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) provides a series of volume data and visualizes joint motions. However, numerical analysis of 4DCT data ...

Generation of Heterogeneous Drug Gradients Across Cancer Populations on a Microfluidic Evolution Accelerator for Real-Time Observation

Conventional cell culture remains the most frequently used preclinical model, despite its proven limited ability to predict clinical results in cancer. ...

Quantification of Oculomotor Responses and Accommodation Through Instrumentation and Analysis Toolboxes

Through the purposeful stimulation and recording of eye movements, the fundamental characteristics of the underlying neural mechanisms of eye movements ...