We thank Dr. Ivo Kalajzic for providing us with the SMACreErt2 mouse strain, Takeshi Umazume for mouse tailing and genotyping, Mark Shelley for acquiring professional pictures for Figure 2. We also thank Scripps Council of Scientific Editors and Mark Shelley for Scientific English editing. We are grateful to The Scripps Research Institute Flow Cytometry core for assistance with cell sorting and to Dr. Robin Willenbring for multiple discussions/advice on FACS data analysis.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute Grants 5 R01 EY026202 and 1 R01 EY028983 to H.P.M.

All animal work was conducted according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) guidelines and was approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Scripps Research Institute. All efforts were made to minimize the number of mice and their suffering. All experimental animals received a standard diet with free access to tap water.
NOTE: The main steps for MEC and pericyte isolation are outlined schematically in Figure 1A-F. All reagents and equip...

<ol>
	<li>Makarenkova, H. P., Dartt, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Myoepithelial+Cells:+Their+Origin+and+Function+in+Lacrimal+Gland+Morphogenesis,+Homeostasis,+and+Repair.">Myoepithelial Cells: Their Origin and Function in Lacrimal Gland Morphogenesis, Homeostasis, and Repair.</a> Current Molecular Biology Reports. 1 (3), 115-123 (2015).</li><li>Haaksma, C. J., Schwartz, R. J., Tomasek, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Myoepithelial+cell+contraction+and+milk+ejection+are+impaired+in+mammary+glands+of+mice+lacking+smooth+muscle+alpha-actin.">Myoepithelial cell contraction and milk ejection are impaired in mammary glands of mice lacking smooth muscle alpha-actin.</a> Biology Of Reproduction. 85 (1), 13-21 (2011).</li><li>Siedlecki, 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=Combined+VEGF/PDGF+inhibition+using+axitinib+induces+alphaSMA+expression+and+a+pro-fibrotic+phenotype+in+human+pericytes.">Combined VEGF/PDGF inhibition using axitinib induces alphaSMA expression and a pro-fibrotic phenotype in human pericytes.</a> Graefe&#8217;s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology. , (2018).</li><li>Fritz, M. E., LaVeau, P., Nahmias, A. J., Weigel, R. J., Lee, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+cultures+of+feline+acinar+cells:+dissociation,+culturing,+and+viral+infection.">Primary cultures of feline acinar cells: dissociation, culturing, and viral infection.</a> American Journal of Physiology. 239 (4), G288-G294 (1980).</li><li>Hann, L. E., Tatro, J. B., Sullivan, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Morphology+and+function+of+lacrimal+gland+acinar+cells+in+primary+culture.">Morphology and function of lacrimal gland acinar cells in primary culture.</a> Investigative Ophthalmology &amp; Visual Science. 30 (1), 145-158 (1989).</li><li>Cripps, M. M., Bromberg, B. B., Bennett, D. J., Welch, 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=Structure+and+function+of+non-enzymatically+dissociated+lacrimal+gland+acini.">Structure and function of non-enzymatically dissociated lacrimal gland acini.</a> Current Eye Research. 10 (11), 1075-1080 (1991).</li><li>Zoukhri, D., Hodges, R. R., Rawe, I. M., Dartt, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ca2++signaling+by+cholinergic+and+alpha1-adrenergic+agonists+is+up-regulated+in+lacrimal+and+submandibular+glands+in+a+murine+model+of+Sjogren's+syndrome.">Ca2+ signaling by cholinergic and alpha1-adrenergic agonists is up-regulated in lacrimal and submandibular glands in a murine model of Sjogren's syndrome.</a> Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology. 89 (2), 134-140 (1998).</li><li>Pringle, S., Nanduri, L. S., van der Zwaag, M., van Os, R., Coppes, R. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+mouse+salivary+gland+stem+cells.">Isolation of mouse salivary gland stem cells.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (48), (2011).</li><li>Shatos, M. A., Haugaard-Kedstrom, L., Hodges, R. R., Dartt, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+characterization+of+progenitor+cells+in+uninjured,+adult+rat+lacrimal+gland.">Isolation and characterization of progenitor cells in uninjured, adult rat lacrimal gland.</a> Investigative Ophthalmology &amp; Visual Science. 53 (6), 2749-2759 (2012).</li><li>Ackermann, P., 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=Isolation+and+Investigation+of+Presumptive+Murine+Lacrimal+Gland+Stem+Cells.">Isolation and Investigation of Presumptive Murine Lacrimal Gland Stem Cells.</a> Investigative Ophthalmology &amp; Visual Science. 56 (8), 4350-4363 (2015).</li><li>Gromova, 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=Lacrimal+Gland+Repair+Using+Progenitor+Cells.">Lacrimal Gland Repair Using Progenitor Cells.</a> Stem Cells Translational Medicine. 6 (1), 88-98 (2017).</li><li>Hawley, 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=Myoepithelial+cell-driven+acini+contraction+in+response+to+oxytocin+receptor+stimulation+is+impaired+in+lacrimal+glands+of+Sjogren's+syndrome+animal+models.">Myoepithelial cell-driven acini contraction in response to oxytocin receptor stimulation is impaired in lacrimal glands of Sjogren's syndrome animal models.</a> Scientific Reports. 8 (1), 9919 (2018).</li><li>Matic, I., 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=Quiescent+Bone+Lining+Cells+Are+a+Major+Source+of+Osteoblasts+During+Adulthood.">Quiescent Bone Lining Cells Are a Major Source of Osteoblasts During Adulthood.</a> Stem Cells. 34 (12), 2930-2942 (2016).</li><li>Bond, M. D., Van Wart, H. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Characterization+of+the+individual+collagenases+from+Clostridium+histolyticum.">Characterization of the individual collagenases from Clostridium histolyticum.</a> Biochemistry. 23 (13), 3085-3091 (1984).</li><li>Eckhard, U., Schonauer, E., Brandstetter, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structural+basis+for+activity+regulation+and+substrate+preference+of+clostridial+collagenases.">Structural basis for activity regulation and substrate preference of clostridial collagenases.</a> G, H, and T. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 288 (28), 20184-20194 (2013).</li><li>Breggia, A. C., Himmelfarb, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+mouse+renal+tubular+epithelial+cells+have+variable+injury+tolerance+to+ischemic+and+chemical+mediators+of+oxidative+stress.">Primary mouse renal tubular epithelial cells have variable injury tolerance to ischemic and chemical mediators of oxidative stress.</a> Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 1 (1), 33-38 (2008).</li><li>Mueller, S. O., Clark, J. A., Myers, P. H., Korach, K. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mammary+gland+development+in+adult+mice+requires+epithelial+and+stromal+estrogen+receptor+alpha.">Mammary gland development in adult mice requires epithelial and stromal estrogen receptor alpha.</a> Endocrinology. 143 (6), 2357-2365 (2002).</li><li>Guthmiller, J. J., Zander, R. A., Butler, N. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Measurement+of+the+T+Cell+Response+to+Preerythrocytic+Vaccination+in+Mice.">Measurement of the T Cell Response to Preerythrocytic Vaccination in Mice.</a> Methods in Molecular Biology. 1325, 19-37 (2015).</li><li>Seime, T., 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=Inducible+cell+labeling+and+lineage+tracking+during+fracture+repair.">Inducible cell labeling and lineage tracking during fracture repair.</a> Development, Growth &amp; Differentiation. 57 (1), 10-23 (2015).</li><li>Hawley, 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=RNA-Seq+and+CyTOF+immuno-profiling+of+regenerating+lacrimal+glands+identifies+a+novel+subset+of+cells+expressing+muscle-related+proteins.">RNA-Seq and CyTOF immuno-profiling of regenerating lacrimal glands identifies a novel subset of cells expressing muscle-related proteins.</a> PLoS One. 12 (6), e0179385 (2017).</li><li>Tata, 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=Myoepithelial+Cells+of+Submucosal+Glands+Can+Function+as+Reserve+Stem+Cells+to+Regenerate+Airways+after+Injury.">Myoepithelial Cells of Submucosal Glands Can Function as Reserve Stem Cells to Regenerate Airways after Injury.</a> Cell Stem Cell. 22 (5), 668-683 (2018).</li><li>Song, E. C., 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=Genetic+and+scRNA-seq+Analysis+Reveals+Distinct+Cell+Populations+that+Contribute+to+Salivary+Gland+Development+and+Maintenance.">Genetic and scRNA-seq Analysis Reveals Distinct Cell Populations that Contribute to Salivary Gland Development and Maintenance.</a> Scientific Reports. 8 (1), 14043 (2018).</li><li>Knight, A. n. d. r. e. w. W., B, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distinguishing+GFP+from+cellular+autofluorescence.">Distinguishing GFP from cellular autofluorescence.</a> Biophotonics International. 8 (7), 7 (2001).</li><li>Januszyk, M., 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=Evaluating+the+Effect+of+Cell+Culture+on+Gene+Expression+in+Primary+Tissue+Samples+Using+Microfluidic-Based+Single+Cell+Transcriptional+Analysis.">Evaluating the Effect of Cell Culture on Gene Expression in Primary Tissue Samples Using Microfluidic-Based Single Cell Transcriptional Analysis.</a> Microarrays (Basel). 4 (4), 540-550 (2015).</li></ol>

The authors declare no competing financial interests and no conflicts of any other interests.

This manuscript described a protocol of MEC and pericyte isolation from LG and SMG. This procedure was based on genetic labeling of SMA, the only reliable biomarker of MECs and pericytes.
The urgency to develop this protocol was motivated by the almost total absence of literature highlighting the isolation of MECs from murine LGs and SMGs. Although genetic labeling was previously used, using SMA-GFP mice to isolate SMA+ cells from young three-week-old LGs12, it did not ...

Myoepithelial cells (MECs) are present in many exocrine glands including lacrimal, salivary, harderian, sweat, prostate, and mammary. MECs are a unique cell type that combines an epithelial and a smooth muscle phenotype. MECs express &#945;-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and have a contractile function1,2. In addition to MECs, the lacrimal gland (LG) and the submandibular gland (SMG) contains SMA+ vascular cells called pericytes, which are cells of endodermal origin that envelop the surface of vascular tubes3. Although MECs and pericytes express many markers, SMA is the only marker that is not expressed in other LG and SMG cells1,3.
Within the last 40 years, several laboratories reported assays for dissociation of different exocrine gland tissues, in which non-enzymatic and enzymatic approaches were applied. In one of the first reports published in 1980, Fritz and coauthors described a protocol to isolate feline parotid acini using sequential digestion in a collagenase/trypsin solution4. In 1989, Hann and coauthors adjusted this protocol for acini isolation from rat LGs using a mixture of collagenase, hyaluronidase and DNase5. In 1990, Cripps and colleagues published the method of non-enzymatic dissociation of lacrimal gland acini6. Later, in 1998, Zoukhri and coauthors returned to an enzymatic dissociation protocol for following up Ca2+-imaging on LG and SMG isolated acini7. Within the last decade, researchers have turned their focus on isolation of stem/progenitor cells from exocrine glands. Pringle and coauthors described a protocol in 2011 for isolation of mouse SMG stem cells8. This method was based on isolation of stem cell-containing salispheres, which were maintained in culture. The authors claimed that proliferating cells expressing stem cell-associated markers could be isolated from these salispheres8. Shatos and coauthors published the protocol for progenitor cell isolation from uninjured adult rat LGs using enzymatic digestion and collecting &#8220;liberated&#8221; cells9. Later, in 2015, Ackermann and coauthors adjusted this procedure to isolate presumptive &#34;murine lacrimal gland stem cells&#34; (&#34;mLGSCs&#34;) that could be propagated as a mono-layer culture over multiple passages10. However, none of the before mentioned procedures allowed for distinguishing cellular subtypes and individual populations of isolated epithelial cells. In 2016, Gromova and coauthors published a procedure for isolation of LG stem/progenitor cells from adult murine LGs using FACS11. However, this protocol was not intended to isolate MECs.
Recently, we have shown that we are able to isolate SMA+ cells from 3 week-old SMA-GFP mice12. However, at this time we have not separated different populations of SMA+ cells. Here we established a new procedure for the direct isolation of differentiated MECs and pericytes from adult LGs and SMGs.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Biosafety Cabinet</td>
			<td>SterilCard Baker</td>
			<td>19669.1</td>
			<td>Class II type A/B3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 ml Disposable serological pipets</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>89130-910</td>
			<td>Manufactured from polystyrene and are supplied sterile and plugged</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 mL Disposable serological pipets</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>89130-908</td>
			<td>Manufactured from polystyrene and are supplied sterile and plugged</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15 mL High-clarity polypropylene conical tubes</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352196</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>25 mL Disposable serological pipets</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>89130-900</td>
			<td>Manufactured from polystyrene and are supplied sterile and plugged</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5 mL FACS round-bottom tubes</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific, Falcon</td>
			<td>14-959-11A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 mL High-clarity polypropylene conical tubes</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antibiotic-antimycotic</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15240-062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Appropriate filter and non-filter tips</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BD Insulin Syringes</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>328468</td>
			<td>with BD Ultra-Fine needle &#189; mL 8 mm 31G</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BD Syringes 10 mL</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>309604</td>
			<td>Sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Brilliant Violet 421 anti mouse CD326 (EpCAM)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>118225</td>
			<td>Monoclonal Antibody (G8.8)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2 1M solution</td>
			<td>BioVision</td>
			<td>B1010</td>
			<td>sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell culture dishes 35 mm</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430165</td>
			<td>Non-pyrogenic, sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase Type I</td>
			<td>Wortington</td>
			<td>LS004194</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Corn oil</td>
			<td>Any avaliable</td>
			<td>Any avaliable</td>
			<td>From grocery store</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Corning cell strainer size 70 &#956;m</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>CLS431751-50EA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Digital Stirrer PC-410D</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>Item# UX-84302-50</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dispase II</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D4693-1G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dissecting scissors, curved blunt</td>
			<td>McKesson Argent</td>
			<td>487350</td>
			<td>Metzenbaum 5-1/2 Inch surgical grade stainless steel non-sterile finger ring handle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DNase I</td>
			<td>Akron Biotech, catalog number</td>
			<td>AK37778-0050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s Modified Eagle&#8217;s Medium &#8211; low glucose (DMEM)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>D5546-500ML</td>
			<td>with 1000mg/L glucose and sodium bicarbonate, without L-glutamine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s Modified Eagle&#8217;s Medium/F12 (DMEM/F12)</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>DF-042-B</td>
			<td>without HEPES, L-glutamine</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Easypet 3 pipette controller</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>4430000018</td>
			<td>with 2 membrane filters 0.45 &#181;m, 0.1 &#8211; 100 mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>E7023-500ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>E6758</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisher Vortex Genie 2</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>12-812</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FlowJo version 10</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescence binocular microscope Axioplan2</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td>ID# 094207</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ghost Red 780 Viability Dye</td>
			<td>Tonbo Biosciences</td>
			<td>13-0865-T100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>GlutaMAX Supplement</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific, Gibco</td>
			<td>35050061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol 99%</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>G-5516</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hand tally counter</td>
			<td>Heathrow Scientific</td>
			<td>HEA6594</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hank&#39;s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)</td>
			<td>Sigma Millipore</td>
			<td>H6648-500ML</td>
			<td>Modified, with sodium bicarbonate, without calcium chloride, magnesium sulphate, phenol red.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hank&#39;s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>14025092</td>
			<td>With calcium, magnesium, no phenol red.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hausser Bright-Line Phase Hemocytometer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>02-671-51B</td>
			<td>02-671-51B</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES 1M solution</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific, Gibco</td>
			<td>15630-080</td>
			<td>Dilute 1/10 in ddH20</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HyClone Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>SH3007002E</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), 5N Volumetric Solution</td>
			<td>JT Baker</td>
			<td>5618-03</td>
			<td>To adjust Tris buffer pH</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Innova 4230 Refrigerated Benchtop Incubator</td>
			<td>New Brunswick Scientific</td>
			<td>SKU#:</td>
			<td>Shaker; 37 &#176;C, 5% CO2 in air</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iris scissors</td>
			<td>Aurora Surgical</td>
			<td>AS12-021</td>
			<td>Pointed tips, delicate, curved, 9 cm, ring handle</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isoflurane Inhalation Anesthetic</td>
			<td>Southern Anesthesia Surgical (SAS)</td>
			<td>PIR001325-EA</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MgCl2 1M solution</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>63069-100ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microcentrifuge tubes 1.5 mL</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>3451</td>
			<td>Clear, graduated, sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microsoft Power Point</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl powder</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S-3014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nalgene 25 mm Syringe Filters</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>724-2020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pen Strep</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15140-122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pH 510 series Benchtop Meter</td>
			<td>Oakton</td>
			<td>SKU: BZA630092</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10010023</td>
			<td>pH 7.4</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pure Ethanol 200 Proof</td>
			<td>Pharmco-Aaper</td>
			<td>111000200</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Red blood cell lysis buffer 10x</td>
			<td>BioVision</td>
			<td>5831-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Roto-torque Heavy Duty Rotator</td>
			<td>Cole Parmer</td>
			<td>MPN: 7637-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Safe-lock round bottom Eppendorf tubes 2 mL</td>
			<td>Eppendorf Biopur</td>
			<td>22600044</td>
			<td>PCR inhibitor, pyrogen and RNAse-free</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Scissors</td>
			<td>Office Depot</td>
			<td>375667</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sorting flow cytometer MoFlo Astrios EQ</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>B25982</td>
			<td>With Summit 6.3 software</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sorvall Legend Micro 17R Microcentrifuge</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>75002441</td>
			<td>All centrifugation performed at RT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sorvall RT7 Plus Benchtop Refrigerated Centrifuge</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>ID# 21550</td>
			<td>RTH-750 Rotor. All centrifugation performed at RT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stemi SV6 stereo dissecting microscope</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td>455054SV6</td>
			<td>With transmitted light base</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tamoxifen</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>T5648-1G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trizma base powder</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>T1503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan blue solution</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>T8154</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Two Dumont tweezers #5</td>
			<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
			<td>500342</td>
			<td>11 cm, Straight, 0.1 x 0.06 mm tips</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Upright microscope</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td>With transmitted light base</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vacuum filtration systems, standard line</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>10040-436</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Variable volume micropipettes</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td>Any available</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation of myoepithelial cells from adult murine lacrimal and submandibular glands

The lacrimal gland (LG) is an exocrine tubuloacinar gland that secretes an aqueous layer of tear film. The LG epithelial tree is comprised of acinar, ductal epithelial, and myoepithelial cells (MECs). MECs express alpha smooth muscle actin (&#945;SMA) and have a contractile function. They are found in multiple glandular organs and are of ectodermal origin. In addition, the LG contains SMA+ vascular smooth muscle cells of endodermal origin called pericytes: contractile cells that envelop the surface of vascular tubes. A new protocol allows us to isolate both MECs and pericytes from adult murine LGs and submandibular glands (SMGs). The protocol is based on the genetic labeling of MECs and pericytes using the SMACreErt2/+:Rosa26-TdTomatofl/fl mouse strain, followed by preparation of the LG single-cell suspension for fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). The protocol allows for the separation of these two cell populations of different origins based on the expression of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) by MECs, whereas pericytes do not express EpCAM. Isolated cells could be used for cell cultivation or gene expression analysis.

Mouse model to isolate SMA+ MECs and pericytes 
The established protocol allows for the isolation of two pure populations: MECs and pericytes from LGs and SMGs (see Table 1). These two types of cells have a different size and appearance. Microvascular pericytes, develop around the walls of capillaries (Figure 5A) and have a squared shape (Figure 5B), while MECs surround the LG secretory acin...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Myoepithelial Cells from Adult Murine Lacrimal and Submandibular Glands at JoVE.com

Isolation of Myoepithelial Cells from Adult Murine Lacrimal and Submandibular Glands

The lacrimal gland (LG) has two cell types expressing &#945;-smooth muscle actin (&#945;SMA): myoepithelial cells (MECs) and pericytes. MECs are of ectodermal origin, found in many glandular tissues, while pericytes are vascular smooth muscle cells of endodermal origin. This protocol isolates MECs and pericytes from murine LGs.

The lacrimal gland (LG) is an exocrine tubuloacinar gland that secretes an aqueous layer of tear film. The LG epithelial tree is comprised of acinar, ...

This protocol is significant because it allows the separation and isolation of two smooth muscle cell lines, the myoepithelial cells and pericytes. This method combines genetic labeling of smooth muscle cells via cell surface markers to purify populations of myoepithelial cells and pericytes. This protocol allows comparison the function and regenerative abilities of healthy and diseased myoepithelial cells and processing these cells for gene expression studies.Myoepithelial cells exist in other exocrine glands such as mammary, salivary, and pancreas, which allows this protocol to be adapted by isolation of myoepithelial cells and pericytes from any other tissue. To label the alpha smooth muscle actin or SMA expressing cells, inject three to four-week-old tamoxifen-inducible alpha SMA driven reporter mice with 100 microliters of tamoxifen per 20 grams of body weight intraperitoneally once a day for two days. For lacrymal gland collection, two to three days after the last injection, use tweezers to gently pull one gland while at the same time scratching the connective tissue around the gland with the sharp tip of a pair of small scissors to free the gland.When the lacrymal and parotid glands have been separated, use scissors to cut the lacrymal gland out and place the glands into a 35 millimeter dish with two milliliters of cold PBS on ice. Place the dish under a dissecting microscope and trim any surrounding fat and connective tissue. Then remove the lacrymal gland capsule with two forceps.When all of the glands have been harvested, check a small piece of tissue under a fluorescent microscope to confirm cell labeling. To prepare a single-cell suspension, transfer all of the lacrymal glands to a 35 millimeter dish containing 0.5 milliliters of room-temperature digestion medium and use small scissors to mince the glands into 0.2 to one micrometer square pieces. Using a wide bore pipette filter tip transfer the minced tissue into a two milliliter round-bottom tube and bring the volume in the tube to two milliliters with digestion medium.Invert the tube to mix, and place the tube into a 37 degree celsius shaking incubator for 90 minutes at 100 to 120 rotations per minute. Every 30 minutes slowly triturate the gland pieces 20 to 30 times using 1000 microliter filter tips with a decreasing bore size. At the end of each trituration, inspect a 10 microliter aliquot under a microscope for clusters.After 90 minutes pass the sample two to three times through an insulin syringe needle to further release the cells into suspension and transfer the cell solution to a 15 milliliter tube. Add Blocking Medium Type 1 to a total of five milliliters and mix the tube two to three times by inversion. Pass the cells through a 70 micrometer cell strainer into a 50 milliliter tube, and wash the strainer with one milliliter of Blocking Medium Type 1, before straining the cells through the filter one more time.Next collect the cells by centrifugation and resuspend the pellet in two milliliters of blocking Blocking Medium Type 2. Transfer the cells to a two milliliter microcentrifuge tube and collect the cells by centrifugation. Resuspend the cells in one milliliter of Accutase solution for a two to three minute incubation at 37 degrees celsius and 100 to 120 rotations per minute.At the end of the incubation, transfer the cells to a 50 milliliter tube and add up to 10 milliliters of Blocking Medium Type 1. After centrifugation resuspend the cells in six milliliters of recovery medium for a 30 minute incubation at room temperature. At the end of the incubation, check a 10 microliter sample under the microscope to ensure complete cell dissociation.After counting, collect the cells by centrifugation. To stain the cells for Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting, or FACS, add up to five times 10 to the five cells per two milliliter tube containing 400 microliters of FACS buffer and add five microliters of Brilliant Violet 421 anti mouse CD326 and 0.5 microliters of Ghost Red 780 Viability Dye. After thorough mixing, wrap the tubes with foil for a 45 minute incubation at 4 degrees celsius with rotation.At the end of the incubation, collect the cells by centrifugation and resuspend the pellets in one milliliter of FACS buffer per sample. Transfer the cell samples to individual five milliliter FACS tubes on ice and adjust the compensation using single color controls. Then sort the cells at 20 pounds per square inch through a 100 micrometer nozzle.Microvascular pericytes develop around the walls of capillaries and demonstrate a square shape. Myoepithelial cells surround the lacrymal secretory acini, have long processes, and occupy a relatively large area. Here, cells dissociated from a lacrymal gland in preparation for Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting, as just demonstrated, are shown.For flow cytometric sorting of myoepithelial cells and pericytes the cells should first be gated by their forward and side-scatter areas before excluding any doublets. After gating to exclude the dead cells, control samples are used to determine the background noise and to establish a proper compensation for an optimum separation between signals. Remember to keep the number of the glands and digestion medium volume as described in protocol, and to check the efficiency of tissue digestion at all steps.The isolated cells can be used for multiple downstream application including in vivo/in vitro experiments, for example cell culture, transplantation, metabolomics, proteomics, and single-cell analysis.

isolation-myoepithelial-cells-from-adult-murine-lacrimal

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

7.7K vistas.  The Scripps Research Institute. Este protocolo es significativo porque permite la separación y aislamiento de dos líneas celulares musculares lisas, las células mioepteliales y pericitos. Este método combina el etiquetado genético de las células musculares lisas a través de marcadores de superficie celular para purificar las poblaciones de células mioepteliales y pericitos. Este protocolo permite comparar la función y las capacidades regenerativas de las células mioepteliales sanas y enfermas y procesar estas cél...