Questa ricerca è stata finanziata dallo Stato della Florida Bankhead-Coley Science Team Grant (2BT03), il National Institutes of Health / National Cancer Institute (1R21CA164322-01) e del Moffitt Cancer Center Science Team Grant. Questo lavoro è stato supportato in parte dal Fondo ricerca traslazionale core al H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center &amp; Research Institute, un NSC designato Comprehensive Cancer Center (P30-CA076292). L&#39;accesso alle cellule primarie è stato reso possibile grazie alla Total Cancer Care protocollo presso il Moffitt Cancer Center.

<ol>
	<li>Salmon, S. E., 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=Quantitation+of+differential+sensitivity+of+human-tumor+stem+cells+to+anticancer+drugs.">Quantitation of differential sensitivity of human-tumor stem cells to anticancer drugs.</a> N Engl J Med. 298, 1321-1327 (1978).</li><li>Suggitt, M., Bibby, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=50+years+of+preclinical+anticancer+drug+screening:+empirical+to+target-driven+approaches.">50 years of preclinical anticancer drug screening: empirical to target-driven approaches.</a> Clin Cancer Res. 11, 971-981 (2005).</li><li>Kirshner, 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=A+unique+three-dimensional+model+for+evaluating+the+impact+of+therapy+on+multiple+myeloma.">A unique three-dimensional model for evaluating the impact of therapy on multiple myeloma.</a> Blood. 112, 2935-2945 (2008).</li><li>Durie, B. G., Jacobson, J., Barlogie, B., Crowley, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Magnitude+of+response+with+myeloma+frontline+therapy+does+not+predict+outcome:+importance+of+time+to+progression+in+southwest+oncology+group+chemotherapy+trials.">Magnitude of response with myeloma frontline therapy does not predict outcome: importance of time to progression in southwest oncology group chemotherapy trials.</a> J Clin Oncol. 22, 1857-1863 (2004).</li><li>Harousseau, J. L., Attal, M., Avet-Loiseau, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+complete+response+in+multiple+myeloma.">The role of complete response in multiple myeloma.</a> Blood. 114, 3139-3146 (2009).</li><li>Khin, Z. 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=A+preclinical+assay+for+chemosensitivity+in+multiple+myeloma.">A preclinical assay for chemosensitivity in multiple myeloma.</a> Cancer Res. 74, 56-67 (2014).</li><li>Misund, 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=A+method+for+measurement+of+drug+sensitivity+of+myeloma+cells+co-cultured+with+bone+marrow+stromal+cells.">A method for measurement of drug sensitivity of myeloma cells co-cultured with bone marrow stromal cells.</a> J Biomol Screen. 18, 637-646 (2013).</li><li>Ramasamy, 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=Fluorescence-based+experimental+model+to+evaluate+the+concomitant+effect+of+drugs+on+the+tumour+microenvironment+and+cancer+cells.">Fluorescence-based experimental model to evaluate the concomitant effect of drugs on the tumour microenvironment and cancer cells.</a> Br J Haematol. 157, 564-579 (2012).</li><li>McMillin, D. W., 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=Tumor+cell-specific+bioluminescence+platform+to+identify+stroma-induced+changes+to+anticancer+drug+activity.">Tumor cell-specific bioluminescence platform to identify stroma-induced changes to anticancer drug activity.</a> Nat Med. 16, 483-489 (2010).</li><li>Koh, C. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+cells+for+microscopy+using+cytospin.">Preparation of cells for microscopy using cytospin.</a> Methods Enzymol. 533, 235-240 (2013).</li><li>Al-Quran, S. Z., Yang, L., Magill, J. M., Braylan, R. C., Douglas-Nikitin, V. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessment+of+bone+marrow+plasma+cell+infiltrates+in+multiple+myeloma:+the+added+value+of+CD138+immunohistochemistry.">Assessment of bone marrow plasma cell infiltrates in multiple myeloma: the added value of CD138 immunohistochemistry.</a> Hum Pathol. 38, 1779-1787 (2007).</li><li>Najar, 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=Mesenchymal+stromal+cells+promote+or+suppress+the+proliferation+of+T+lymphocytes+from+cord+blood+and+peripheral+blood:+the+importance+of+low+cell+ratio+and+role+of+interleukin-6.">Mesenchymal stromal cells promote or suppress the proliferation of T lymphocytes from cord blood and peripheral blood: the importance of low cell ratio and role of interleukin-6.</a> Cytotherapy. 11, 570-583 (2009).</li><li>Scott, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phase+i+trialist.">Phase i trialist.</a> Lancet Oncol. 13, 236 (2012).</li></ol>

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

In sintesi, questo è un metodo di throughput potente e alta quantificare chemiosensibilità delle cellule MM primarie ed ex vivo farmacodinamica dei farmaci in una ricostruzione del midollo osseo. I passaggi critici all&#39;interno questo protocollo sono il corretto semina dei pozzi e focalizzazione adeguata (vedi Figura 2 per i risultati attesi): assicurare che le cellule stromali MM e sono uniformemente distribuiti, che le cellule stromali sono aderenti al fondo del pozzo, che tutti MM cellu...

L&#39;obiettivo di questo metodo è quello di caratterizzare la sensibilità ai farmaci del mieloma multiplo (MM) cellule primarie ad un pannello di agenti ex vivo, il più vicino possibile alle condizioni fisiologiche, e con sufficiente precisione che questi risultati possono essere utilizzati per identificare chemioresistente sub popolazioni nel carico tumorale e, in ultima analisi, di parametrizzare modelli computazionali studiati per valutare la risposta clinica. Modelli di calcolo sono strumenti potenti per analizzare sistemi complessi, quali le interazioni tumore-ospite-terapia. Tuttavia, i modelli sono solo buono come i dati utilizzati per parametrizzare loro. Sfortunatamente, la maggior parte dei dati disponibili in letteratura non possono essere utilizzati nella forma attuale di parametrizzare tali modelli, in quanto spesso vengono ottenuti in condizioni sperimentali reciprocamente esclusivi. Così, nuovi esperimenti sono spesso richiesti con l&#39;obiettivo di ottenere il set di parametri sperimentali necessari. La maggior parte dei saggi di vitalità, tuttavia, sono distruttive e thCi limitati a un piccolo numero di punti di tempo, spesso solo uno. Questo ostacola notevolmente l&#39;utilizzo di test di chemiosensibilità a parametrizzare modelli computazionali, dal momento che tali esperimenti non riescono a fornire informazioni sulla dinamica temporale del sistema. Ciò è particolarmente vero con le cellule tumorali primari, che sono spesso limitati a pochi milioni per campione, e hanno una vita breve dopo la biopsia, limitando così il numero di condizioni sperimentali. Inoltre, la maggior parte dei saggi di vitalità richiedono la separazione del cancro dai non-cancro (stroma) cellule al momento della quantificazione, che aggiunge lavoro extra al protocollo, perturba ulteriormente le cellule, e limita il numero di esperimenti che possono essere eseguite . 40 anni fa, salmone e collaboratori 1 hanno proposto il loro famoso in vitro colonie formazione per la valutazione di chemiosensibilità delle cellule tumorali. Purtroppo questo test trovate alterne fortune a causa del piccolo numero di mye multiplaloma (MM) campioni di pazienti che erano in grado di formare colonie in condizioni di controllo: è stato stimato che solo un piccolo sottogruppo di 0.001% al 0,1% di cellule di MM sono stati in grado di riprodursi, di essere definiti come le cellule staminali mieloma multiplo 2. Questo limita significativamente il tasso di successo del saggio e il numero di farmaci che possono essere testati in una sola volta, anche in modelli più recenti 3. La questione è molto più importante ora, quando gli agenti mm (standard o sperimentali) sono più numerose di quattro decenni fa. Una limitazione importante di questi primi saggi è la loro uscita dicotomizzate: o un paziente è &quot;sensibili&quot; o &quot;resistenti&quot; ad un particolare farmaco. Non vengono fornite informazioni relative al grado di sensibilità ed eterogeneità della popolazione tumorale. Pertanto, i pazienti con piccole sottopopolazioni di cellule resistenti rapida crescita sarebbero classificate come &quot;sensibili&quot; per la terapia, ma sarebbe ricaduta a breve, e quindi non benEFIT dal trattamento. Data l&#39;importanza della durata della risposta in termini di sopravvivenza globale (OS) dei pazienti oncologici 4,5, è chiaro come questi test non sono stati in grado di stimare correttamente OS coerente. Per aggirare queste limitazioni, e di essere in grado di generare modelli computazionali specifici del paziente che stimare la risposta clinica personalizzato ad un pannello di farmaci, abbiamo sviluppato un metodo per la sensibilità ai farmaci test non distruttivo di mieloma multiplo (MM) linee cellulari e cellule di MM primarie in un ex vivo ricostruzione del midollo microambiente osseo, tra cui matrice extracellulare e stroma 6. Questa analisi, tuttavia, aveva la limitazione di basarsi su un particolare diapositiva microfluidico commerciale, le cui dimensioni e costo limitato il numero di esperimenti o farmaci che potrebbero essere effettuata una volta in un determinato materiale. Il sistema qui descritto estende questo saggio originale in un alto-throughput organotipica piattaforma dose-risposta, per lo screening in vitro di farmaci, basato su un algoritmo di analisi di immagine digitale non distruttivo quantificare la vitalità cellulare. Ogni bene in 384 e 1.536 pozzetti piastre è una ricostruzione in 3D del midollo microambiente osseo, incluse le cellule primarie di MM, matrice extracellulare, e stroma e fattori di crescita di derivazione del paziente. Microscopia diretta e analisi digitale sono utilizzati per rilevare eventi morte cellulare a concentrazioni del farmaco diversi, che vengono utilizzati per generare superfici dose-risposta. Dai dati in vitro, un modello matematico identifica la dimensione e la chemiosensibilità delle sub-popolazioni all&#39;interno carico tumorale del paziente, e può essere utilizzato per simulare il tumore risponderà al farmaco (s) in condizioni fisiologiche in un regime clinica 6 ( Figura 1). Le principali innovazioni di questa piattaforma sono: (a) piccolo numero di cellule tumorali richiesti (1.000-10.000 per concent drogarazione); (B) la valutazione di efficacia dei farmaci in condizioni fisiologiche (matrice extracellulare, stroma, i fattori di crescita di derivazione del paziente); (C) Nessuna tossicità da vitalità marcatori 7 dal momento che solo l&#39;imaging in campo chiaro è usato, quindi non c&#39;è bisogno di trasfettare cellule con fluorescenza 8 o bioluminescenza 9; (D) l&#39;imaging continuo fornisce effetto del farmaco in funzione della concentrazione e tempo di esposizione (farmacodinamica); e (e) l&#39;integrazione tra modelli in vitro e computazionali evolutivi, stimare esito clinico 6 (Silva et al., in preparazione). Il fattore chiave che permette l&#39;algoritmo di analisi di immagine digitale di discernere cancro da cellule stromali è la differente affinità al fondo del pozzo: cellule di MM non aderiscono, e rimangono in sospensione nella matrice, mentre le cellule stromali aderire al fondo del bene e poi allungare. Questa separazione si verifica anche se MM e stroma unre seminate allo stesso tempo, e si verifica durante il processo / N O di incubazione. La fase di arresto nella centrifuga seguente semina della piastra accelera ulteriormente questo processo. Di conseguenza, le cellule MM appaiono nell&#39;immagine come dischi luminosi rotonda circondata da un anello scuro, mentre lo stroma mantiene un profilo basso e più scura (Figura 2). Così, il test nella sua forma attuale è la più adatta per le cellule tumorali non aderenti, anche se adeguamenti dell&#39;algoritmo potrebbe essere fatto al cancro e stroma separata sulla base di altre caratteristiche morfologiche, come la dimensione e la forma. In questo protocollo descriviamo due tipi di matrice extracellulare (collagene e matrice di membrana basale) e due tipi di co-culture, con (midollo derivate cellule staminali mesenchimali ossee) BMSC e HUVEC, rappresenta le nicchie interstiziali e perivascolari del midollo osseo rispettivamente. Utilizzando una piastra a 384 pozzetti, 5 concentrazioni per droga e due repliche, siamo stati in grado di TESt fino a 31 diversi farmaci con il campione di un singolo paziente. In piastre 1.536 pozzetti questo numero è 127. Figura 3 illustra lo schema attualmente utilizzata per la semina delle cellule manuale, mentre supplementare figura 1 rappresenta la distribuzione ottimale utilizzando una pipetta robotica. Nel disegno di figura 3, ogni piatto 384 pozzetti può trasportare 3 campioni di pazienti con 7 diversi farmaci, o un campione paziente testato con 21 farmaci. Ogni farmaco è rappresentato da 5 concentrazioni, e ciascuna condizione è seminato in duplicato. 4 pozzetti di controllo (nessun farmaco è mio) vengono seminate per ogni set di 7 farmaci (ad esempio, pozzi 36-39, 126-129 e 200-203). Per garantire l&#39;efficacia dei farmaci utilizzati, una linea cellulare di mieloma umano (ad esempio, H929 o MM1.S) è anche inseminate, drogato in duplicato alla più alta concentrazione di ciascuno dei farmaci utilizzati (pozzi 76-89). Il controllo linea cellulare positiva assicura che i farmaci utilizzati hanno sufficiente potenza, dal momento che le loro curve dose-risposta sono ac comparabiliEsperimenti Ross. Due pozzi sono seminati con una linea cellulare di mieloma come controllo per le condizioni ambientali, in altre parole, per rilevare possibili problemi nel banco superiore incubatore durante l&#39;imaging (pozzi 75 e 90). L&#39;enumerazione dei pozzetti segue un andamento a zig-zag in modo da ridurre la distanza coperta dalla fase motorizzato del microscopio, che riduce il tempo di acquisizione e riduce l&#39;usura dell&#39;apparecchiatura.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>EVOS FL AUTO</td>
			<td>AMG</td>
			<td>AMAFD1000 + AMC1000</td>
			<td>Digital microscope equipped with motorized stage and bench top incubator.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>384-well plate CellBind</td>
			<td>CORNING</td>
			<td>CLS3683 SIGMA</td>
			<td>Corning CellBIND 384 well plates 
			384 well plate, polystyrene, CellBIND surface, sterile, clear flat bottom, black, w/lid</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1,536-well plate CellBind</td>
			<td>CORNING</td>
			<td>CLS3832 ALDRICH</td>
			<td>Corning 1536 well plates, low base, surface treatment CellBIND, sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ficoll-Paque Plus&#160;</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>GE17-1440-02 SIGMA</td>
			<td>For in vitro isolation of lymphocytes from human peripheral blood.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD138 magnetic beads</td>
			<td>Miltenyi&#160;</td>
			<td>130-051-301</td>
			<td>Antibody conjugated magnetic beads for selection of CD138+ cells.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LS columns</td>
			<td>Miltenyi&#160;</td>
			<td>&#160;130-042-401</td>
			<td>Column for separation of cells.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MidiMACS Separator</td>
			<td>Miltenyi&#160;</td>
			<td>130-042-302</td>
			<td>Magnet for separation column.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Matrigel</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>E6909 SIGMA</td>
			<td>ECM Gel from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm murine sarcoma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Getrex</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>A1413201</td>
			<td>LDEV-Free Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HUVEC</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>C-003-25P-B</td>
			<td>Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC )</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI-1640 media</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>11875-093</td>
			<td>RPMI 1640 Medium + L-Glutamine + Phenol Red</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FBS Heat inactivated</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>10082-147</td>
			<td>Fetal Bovine Serum, certified, heat inactivated, US origin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3.1mg/mL Bovine collagen type I</td>
			<td>Advanced Biomatrix</td>
			<td>5005-B</td>
			<td>Bovine Collagen Solution, Type I, 3 mg/ml, 100 ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Precision XS</td>
			<td>BIOTEK</td>
			<td>PRC3841</td>
			<td>Robotic pipettor system</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an organotypic high throughput system for characterization of drug sensitivity of primary multiple myeloma cells

In questo lavoro descriviamo un nuovo approccio che unisce ex vivo test di sensibilità di droga e l&#39;analisi di immagini digitali per stimare chemiosensibilità ed eterogeneità di mieloma multiplo (MM), le cellule derivate da pazienti. Questo approccio consiste nel seminare cellule di MM primarie appena estratti da aspirati midollari nelle camere di microfluidica attuate in piastre multi-così, ognuno composto da una ricostruzione del microambiente midollare, tra cui matrice extracellulare (collagene o membrana basale matrice) e stroma (paziente- le cellule staminali mesenchimali derivate) o cellule endoteliali umane di derivazione (HUVECs). Le camere sono drogati con diversi agenti e concentrazioni, e vengono esposte in sequenza per 96 ore attraverso il microscopio a campo luminoso, in un microscopio motorizzato dotato di una fotocamera digitale. Software di analisi dell&#39;immagine digitale rileva le cellule vive e morte dalla presenza o assenza di movimento della membrana, e genera le curve di cambiamento della redditività in funzione of concentrazione di farmaco e il tempo di esposizione. Usiamo un modello computazionale per determinare i parametri di chemiosensibilità della popolazione tumorale per ciascun farmaco, così come il numero di sub-popolazioni presenti come misura di eterogeneità tumorale. Questi modelli su misura del paziente possono poi essere utilizzati per simulare regimi terapeutici e valutare la risposta clinica.

Il flusso di questo esperimento è brevemente descritto nella Figura 1 Se tutti i passaggi sono stati completati con successo, le immagini ottenute con il microscopio dovrebbe essere equivalente alla Figura 2:. Vivono cellule di MM devono essere chiaramente visibili come dischi luminosi e BMSCs o HUVECs dovrebbero essere appena visibile e ben distribuita in background. Come si vede nella figura 2A, cellule di MM variano nel formato da un paziente all&#39;altro, ma in ge...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells at JoVE.com

An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells

We describe a high-throughput drug sensitivity assay for primary multiple myeloma cells. It consists of a reconstruction of the bone marrow microenvironment (including extracellular matrix and stroma) in multi-well plates, and a non-invasive method for longitudinal quantification of cell viability.

Un sistema organotipica High Throughput per la caratterizzazione di droga sensibilità di primaria multicampo cellule del mieloma

In this work we describe a novel approach that combines ex vivo drug sensitivity assays and digital image analysis to estimate chemosensitivity and ...

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Medicine

8.5K Views.  H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. We describe a high-throughput drug sensitivity assay for primary multiple myeloma cells. It consists of a reconstruction of the bone marrow microenvironment (including extracellular matrix and stroma) in multi-well plates, and a non-invasive method for longitudinal quantification of cell viability.

Video: An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells

Coculture System with an Organotypic Brain Slice and 3D Spheroid of Carcinoma Cells

Patients with cerebral metastasis of carcinomas have a poor prognosis. However, the process at the metastatic site has barely been investigated, in particular the role of the resident (stromal) cells. Studies in primary carcinomas demonstrate the influence of the microenvironment on metastasis, even on prognosis1,2. Especially the tumor associated macrophages (TAM) support migration, invasion and proliferation3. Interestingly, the major target sites of metastasis possess tissue-specific macrophages, such as Kupffer cells in the liver or microglia in the CNS. Moreover, the metastatic sites also possess other tissue-specific cells, like astrocytes. Recently, astrocytes were demonstrated to foster proliferation and persistence of cancer cells4,5. Therefore, functions of these tissue-specific cell types seem to be very important in the process of brain metastasis6,7.
Despite these observations, however, up to now there is no suitable in vivo/in vitro model available to directly visualize glial reactions during cerebral metastasis formation, in particular by bright field microscopy. Recent in vivo live imaging of carcinoma cells demonstrated their cerebral colonization behavior8. However, this method is very laborious, costly and technically complex. In addition, these kinds of animal experiments are restricted to small series and come with a substantial stress for the animals (by implantation of the glass plate, injection of tumor cells, repetitive anaesthesia and long-term fixation). Furthermore, in vivo imaging is thus far limited to the visualization of the carcinoma cells, whereas interactions with resident cells have not yet been illustrated. Finally, investigations of human carcinoma cells within immunocompetent animals are impossible8.
For these reasons, we established a coculture system consisting of an organotypic mouse brain slice and epithelial cells embedded in matrigel (3D cell sphere). The 3D carcinoma cell spheres were placed directly next to the brain slice edge in order to investigate the invasion of the neighboring brain tissue. This enables us to visualize morphological changes and interactions between the glial cells and carcinoma cells by fluorescence and even by bright field microscopy. After the coculture experiment, the brain tissue or the 3D cell spheroids can be collected and used for further molecular analyses (e.g. qRT-PCR, IHC, or immunoblot) as well as for investigations by confocal microscopy. This method can be applied to monitor the events within a living brain tissue for days without deleterious effects to the brain slices. The model also allows selective suppression and replacement of resident cells by cells from a donor tissue to determine the distinct impact of a given genotype. Finally, the coculture model is a practicable alternative to in vivo approaches when testing targeted pharmacological manipulations.

The organotypic brain slice coculture with carcinoma cells enables visualizing morphological changes by fluorescence as well as bright field (video) microscopy during the process of carcinoma cell invasion of brain tissue. This model system also allows for cell exchange and replenishment approaches and offers a wide variety of manipulations and analyses.

Co-coltura di sistema con un Organotipica cervello Slice e 3D Spheroid delle cellule di carcinoma

Patients with cerebral metastasis of carcinomas have a poor prognosis. However, the process at the metastatic site has barely been investigated, in ...

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Medicina

High Throughput Characterization of Adult Stem Cells Engineered for Delivery of Therapeutic Factors for Neuroprotective Strategies

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow are a powerful cellular resource and have been used in numerous studies as potential candidates to develop strategies for treating a variety of diseases. The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize MSCs as cellular vehicles engineered for delivery of therapeutic factors as part of a neuroprotective strategy for rescuing the damaged or diseased nervous system. In this study we used mouse MSCs that were genetically modified using lentiviral vectors, which encoded brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), together with green fluorescent protein (GFP). 
Before proceeding with in vivo transplant studies it was important to characterize the engineered cells to determine whether or not the genetic modification altered aspects of normal cell behavior. Different culture substrates were examined for their ability to support cell adhesion, proliferation, survival, and cell migration of the four subpopulations of engineered MSCs. High content screening (HCS) was conducted and image analysis performed. 
Substrates examined included: poly-L-lysine, fibronectin, collagen type I, laminin, entactin-collagen IV-laminin (ECL). Ki67 immunolabeling was used to investigate cell proliferation and Propidium Iodide staining was used to investigate cell viability. Time-lapse imaging was conducted using a transmitted light/environmental chamber system on the high content screening system.
Our results demonstrated that the different subpopulations of the genetically modified MSCs displayed similar behaviors that were in general comparable to that of the original, non-modified MSCs. The influence of different culture substrates on cell growth and cell migration was not dramatically different between groups comparing the different MSC subtypes, as well as culture substrates. 
This study provides an experimental strategy to rapidly characterize engineered stem cells and their behaviors before their application in long-term in vivo transplant studies for nervous system rescue and repair.

This study describes an experimental platform to rapidly characterize engineered stem cells and their behaviors before their application in long-term in vivo transplant studies for nervous system rescue and repair.

High Throughput Caratterizzazione di cellule staminali adulte Engineered per consegna di fattori terapeutici per le strategie neuroprotettive

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow are a powerful cellular resource and have been used in numerous studies as potential candidates to ...

Establishment of a Human Multiple Myeloma Xenograft Model in the Chicken to Study Tumor Growth, Invasion and Angiogenesis

Multiple myeloma (MM), a malignant plasma cell disease, remains incurable and novel drugs are required to improve the prognosis of patients. Due to the lack of the bone microenvironment and auto/paracrine growth factors human MM cells are difficult to cultivate. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish proper in vitro and in vivo culture systems to study the action of novel therapeutics on human MM cells. Here we present a model to grow human multiple myeloma cells in a complex 3D environment in vitro and in vivo. MM cell lines OPM-2 and RPMI-8226 were transfected to express the transgene GFP and were cultivated in the presence of human mesenchymal cells and collagen type-I matrix as three-dimensional spheroids. In addition, spheroids were grafted on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chicken embryos and tumor growth was monitored by stereo fluorescence microscopy. Both models allow the study of novel therapeutic drugs in a complex 3D environment and the quantification of the tumor cell mass after homogenization of grafts in a transgene-specific GFP-ELISA. Moreover, angiogenic responses of the host and invasion of tumor cells into the subjacent host tissue can be monitored daily by a stereo microscope and analyzed by immunohistochemical staining against human tumor cells (Ki-67, CD138, Vimentin) or host mural cells covering blood vessels (desmin/ASMA).
In conclusion, the onplant system allows studying MM cell growth and angiogenesis in a complex 3D environment and enables screening for novel therapeutic compounds targeting survival and proliferation of MM cells.

Human multiple myeloma (MM) cells require the supportive microenvironment of mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrix components for survival and proliferation. We established an in vivo chicken embryo model with engrafted human myeloma and mesenchymal cells to study effects of cancer drugs on tumor growth, invasion and angiogenesis.

Istituzione di un mieloma multiplo umano Xenograft modello nel pollo per studiare la crescita del tumore, invasione e l&#39;angiogenesi

Multiple myeloma (MM), a malignant plasma cell disease, remains incurable and novel drugs are required to improve the prognosis of patients. Due to the ...

A Brain Tumor/Organotypic Slice Co-culture System for Studying Tumor Microenvironment and Targeted Drug Therapies

Brain tumors are a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Developing new therapeutics for these cancers is difficult, as many of these tumors are not easily grown in standard culture conditions. Neurosphere cultures under serum-free conditions and orthotopic xenografts have expanded the range of tumors that can be maintained. However, many types of brain tumors remain difficult to propagate or study. This is particularly true for pediatric brain tumors such as pilocytic astrocytomas and medulloblastomas. This protocol describes a system that allows primary human brain tumors to be grown in culture. This quantitative assay can be used to investigate the effect of microenvironment on tumor growth, and to test new drug therapies. This protocol describes a system where fluorescently labeled brain tumor cells are grown on an organotypic brain slice from a juvenile mouse. The response of tumor cells to drug treatments can be studied in this assay, by analyzing changes in the number of cells on the slice over time. In addition, this system can address the nature of the microenvironment that normally fosters growth of brain tumors. This brain tumor organotypic slice co-culture assay provides a propitious system for testing new drugs on human tumor cells within a brain microenvironment.

Many types of human brain tumors are localized to specific regions within the brain and are difficult to grow in culture. This protocol addresses the role of tumor microenvironment and investigates new drug treatments by analyzing fluorescent primary brain tumor cells growing in an organotypic mouse brain slice. &#160;

Un tumore cerebrale / organotipica fetta sistema di co-coltura per lo Studio microambiente tumorale e mirata terapie farmacologiche

Brain tumors are a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Developing new therapeutics for these cancers is difficult, as many of these ...

Forskolin-induced Swelling in Intestinal Organoids: An In Vitro Assay for Assessing Drug Response in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Recently-developed cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-modulating drugs correct surface expression and/or function of the mutant CFTR channel in subjects with cystic fibrosis (CF). Identification of subjects that may benefit from these drugs is challenging because of the extensive heterogeneity of CFTR mutations, as well as other unknown factors that contribute to individual drug efficacy. Here, we describe a simple and relatively rapid assay for measuring individual CFTR function and response to CFTR modulators in vitro. Three dimensional (3D) epithelial organoids are grown from rectal biopsies in standard organoid medium. Once established, the organoids can be bio-banked for future analysis. For the assay, 30-80 organoids are seeded in 96-well plates in basement membrane matrix and are then exposed to drugs. One day later, the organoids are stained with calcein green, and forskolin-induced swelling is monitored by confocal live cell microscopy at 37 &#176;C. Forskolin-induced swelling is fully CFTR-dependent and is sufficiently sensitive and precise to allow for discrimination between the drug responses of individuals with different and even identical CFTR mutations. In vitro swell responses correlate with the clinical response to therapy. This assay provides a cost-effective approach for the identification of drug-responsive individuals, independent of their CFTR mutations. It may also be instrumental in the development of future CFTR modulators.

Forskolin-induced Swelling in Intestinal Organoids: An In Vitro Assay for Assessing Drug Response in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

This protocol describes an assay for measuring CFTR function and CFTR modulator responses in cultured tissue from subjects with cystic fibrosis (CF). Biopsy-derived intestinal organoids swell in a cAMP-driven fashion, a response that is defective (or strongly reduced) in CF organoids and can be restored by exposure to CFTR modulators.

Forskolin indotta Gonfiore intestinale organoidi: An<em&gt; In Vitro</em&gt; Test per la valutazione della risposta farmacologica nella fibrosi cistica pazienti

Recently-developed cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-modulating drugs correct surface expression and/or function of the mutant ...

Optimized LC-MS/MS Method for the High-throughput Analysis of Clinical Samples of Ivacaftor, Its Major Metabolites, and Lumacaftor in Biological Fluids of Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Defects in the cystic fibrosis trans-membrane conductance regulator (CFTR) are the cause of cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease with life-threatening pulmonary manifestations. Ivacaftor (IVA) and ivacaftor-lumacaftor (LUMA) combination are two new breakthrough CF drugs that directly modulate the activity and trafficking of the defective CFTR-protein. However, there is still a dearth of understanding on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters and the pharmacology of ivacaftor and lumacaftor. The HPLC-MS technique for the simultaneous analysis of the concentrations of ivacaftor, hydroxymethyl-ivacaftor, ivacaftor-carboxylate, and lumacaftor in biological fluids in patients receiving standard ivacaftor or ivacaftor-lumacaftor combination therapy has previously been developed by our group and partially validated to FDA standards. However, to allow the high-throughput analysis of a larger number of patient samples, our group has optimized the reported method through the use of a smaller pore size reverse-phase chromatography column (2.6 &#181;m, C8 100 &#197;; 50 x 2.1 mm) and a gradient solvent system (0-1 min: 40% B; 1-2 min: 40-70% B; 2-2.7 min: held at 70% B; 2.7-2.8 min: 70-90% B; 2.8-4.0 min: 90% B washing; 4.0-4.1 min: 90-40% B; 4.1-6.0 min: held at 40% B) instead of an isocratic elution. The goal of this study was to reduce the HPLC-MS analysis time per sample dramatically from ~15 min to only 6 min per sample, which is essential for the analysis of a large amount of patient samples. This expedient method will be of considerable utility for studies into the exposure-response relationships of these breakthrough CF drugs.

Ivacaftor and ivacaftor-lumacaftor combination are two new CF drugs. However, there is still a dearth of understanding on their PK/PD and pharmacology. We present an optimized HPLC-MS technique for the simultaneous analysis of ivacaftor and its major metabolites, and lumacaftor.

Metodo ottimizzato di LC-MS/MS per l'analisi di High-throughput di campioni clinici di Ivacaftor, suoi principali metaboliti e Lumacaftor nei fluidi biologici di pazienti affetti da fibrosi cistica

Defects in the cystic fibrosis trans-membrane conductance regulator (CFTR) are the cause of cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease with life-threatening ...

Improved Method for the Establishment of an In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Model Based on Porcine Brain Endothelial Cells

The aim of this protocol presents an optimized procedure for the purification and cultivation of pBECs and to establish in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models based on pBECs in mono-culture (MC), MC with astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM), and non-contact co-culture (NCC) with astrocytes of porcine or rat origin. pBECs were isolated and cultured from fragments of capillaries from the brain cortices of domestic pigs 5-6 months old. These fragments were purified by careful removal of meninges, isolation and homogenization of grey matter, filtration, enzymatic digestion, and centrifugation. To further eliminate contaminating cells, the capillary fragments were cultured with puromycin-containing medium. When 60-95% confluent, pBECs growing from the capillary fragments were passaged to permeable membrane filter inserts and established in the models. To increase barrier tightness and BBB characteristic phenotype of pBECs, the cells were treated with the following differentiation factors: membrane permeant 8-CPT-cAMP (here abbreviated cAMP), hydrocortisone, and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, RO-20-1724 (RO). The procedure was carried out over a period of 9-11 days, and when establishing the NCC model, the astrocytes were cultured 2-8 weeks in advance. Adherence to the described procedures in the protocol has allowed the establishment of endothelial layers with highly restricted paracellular permeability, with the NCC model showing an average transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) of 1249 &#177; 80 &#937; cm2, and paracellular permeability (Papp) for Lucifer Yellow of 0.90 10-6 &#177; 0.13 10-6 cm sec-1 (mean &#177; SEM, n=55). Further evaluation of this pBEC phenotype showed good expression of the tight junctional proteins claudin 5, ZO-1, occludin and adherens junction protein p120 catenin. The model presented can be used for a range of studies of the BBB in health and disease and, with the highly restrictive paracellular permeability, this model is suitable for studies of transport and intracellular trafficking.

Improved Method for the Establishment of an In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Model Based on Porcine Brain Endothelial Cells

The aim of the protocol is to present an optimized procedure for the establishment of an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model based on primary porcine brain endothelial cells (pBECs). The model shows high reproducibility, high tightness, and is suitable for studies of transport and intracellular trafficking in drug discovery.

Migliorato il metodo per la creazione di un In Vitro barriera emato - encefalica modello basato sulle cellule endoteliali Porcine cervello

The aim of this protocol presents an optimized procedure for the purification and cultivation of pBECs and to establish in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) ...

Isolation of Primary Human Decidual Cells from the Fetal Membranes of Term Placentae

The decidua, also known as the pregnant endometrium, is a critically important reproductive tissue. Decidual cells, comprised mainly of decidualized stromal cells and immune cells, are responsible for the secretion of hormonal and inflammatory factors which are critical for successful blastocyst implantation, placental development and play a role in the initiation of labor at term and preterm. Many pregnancy complications can arise from perturbations of a fine balance of different cell populations comprising decidua. Alterations in the proportion of specific decidual cell types may disrupt these crucial processes and increase the risk of developing serious complications of pregnancy, such as embryo implantation failure, intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia and preterm labor. The protocol outlined here demonstrates a cost and time effective method for the isolation of primary human decidual cells collected from the fetal membranes of term placentae. By combining enzymatic digestion and gentle mechanical disruption of the decidual tissue, a high yield of decidual cells was obtained with virtually no chorion contamination. Importantly, isolated decidual cells were characterized (stromal cells (55-60%), leukocytes (35%), epithelial (1%) or trophoblast (0.01%) cells) and maintained high viability (80%) which was confirmed by multicolor imaging flow cytometry assay. This protocol is specific to the decidua parietalis and can be adapted to first and second trimester placentae. Once isolated, decidual cells can be used for a multitude of experimental applications aiming to understand the role of different decidual cell sub-populations in pregnancy complications.

This protocol demonstrates a method for the isolation of primary human decidual cells collected from the fetal membranes of term placentae which can be used for a variety of applications (i.e. immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, etc.) aiming to study the role of different cell populations in pregnancy complications.

Isolamento di cellule deciduali umane primarie dalle membrane fetali del termine intempestivo della placenta

The decidua, also known as the pregnant endometrium, is a critically important reproductive tissue. Decidual cells, comprised mainly of decidualized ...

A High-Throughput Electrochemiluminescence 7-Plex Assay Simultaneously Screening for Type 1 Diabetes and Multiple Autoimmune Diseases

Islet autoantibodies (IAbs) are widely used in type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis and prediction. Four major IAbs to insulin (IAA), glutamate decarboxylase-65 (GADA), insulinoma antigen-2 (IA-2A), and zinc transporter-8 (ZnT8A) are equally important in disease prediction. Presently, up to 40% of patients diagnosed with T1D go on to develop other autoimmune disorders. Unfortunately, current screening methods using a single autoantibody for measurement are laborious and inefficient for large scale screening studies. We recently developed a simple multiplexed electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay to address these current issues. The assay combines all 7 autoantibody tests into one well. Each well includes three IAbs (IAA, GADA, and IA-2A), autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOA) and thyroid globulin (ThGA) to detect autoimmune thyroid disease, autoantibodies to tissue transglutaminase (TGA) for celiac disease, and autoantibodies to interferon alpha (IFN&#945;A) for autoimmune polyglandular syndrome-1 (APS-1); all of which screen for T1D and other relevant autoimmune diseases, simultaneously. The multiplex ECL assay is based on the single ECL assay platform, but instead uses the multiplex plate combining multiple autoantibody assays, up to 10, into a single well. The main difference from the single ECL assay is that each antibody-antigen complex formed in the fluid-phase is restrained onto a specific spot on each well through a linker system on the multiplex plate. The 7-Plex ECL assay, in the present study, is validated against standard radio-binding assays (RBA) and single ECL assays, using a large cohort of newly diagnosed T1D patients and age-matched healthy controls, resulting in excellent assay sensitivity and specificity.

We model a simple multiplexed ECL assay that combines 7 autoantibody assays together. The assay is capable of screening for T1D and multiple other autoimmune diseases, simultaneously, including celiac disease, autoimmune thyroid disease, and autoimmune polyglandular syndrome 1.

Un test di elettrochemiluminescenza 7-plex ad alta produttività che esegue simultaneamente lo screening per il diabete di tipo 1 e le malattie autoimmuni multiple

Islet autoantibodies (IAbs) are widely used in type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis and prediction. Four major IAbs to insulin (IAA), glutamate ...

Characterization of a Novel Human Organotypic Retinal Culture Technique

Previous human organotypic retinal culture (HORC) models have utilized detached retinas; however, without the structural support conferred by retinal pigment epithelium-choroid (RPE-choroid) and sclera, the integrity of the fragile retina can easily be compromised. The aim of this study was to develop a novel HORC model that contains the retina, RPE-choroid and sclera to maintain retinal integrity when culturing retinal explants.
After cutting circumferentially along the limbus to remove iris and lens, four deep incisions were made to flatten the eyecup. In contrast to previous HORC protocols, a trephine was used to cut through not only the retina but also the RPE-choroid and sclera. The resultant triple-layered explants were cultured for 72 h. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&#38;E) was used to assess anatomical structures and retinal explants were further characterized by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for apoptosis, M&#252;ller cell integrity and retinal inflammation. To confirm the possibility of disease induction, explants were exposed to high glucose (HG) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (Cyt), to mimic diabetic retinopathy (DR). The Luminex magnetic bead assay was used to measure DR-related cytokines released into the culture medium.
H&#38;E staining revealed distinct retinal lamellae and compact nuclei in retinal explants with the underlying RPE-choroid and sclera, while retinas without the underlying structures exhibited reduced thickness and severe nuclei loss. IHC results indicated absence of apoptosis and retinal inflammation as well as preserved M&#252;ller cell integrity. The Luminex&#160;assays showed significantly increased secretion of DR-associated pro-inflammatory cytokines in retinal explants exposed to HG + Cyt relative to baseline levels at 24 h.
We successfully developed and characterized a novel HORC protocol in which retinal integrity was preserved without apoptosis or retinal inflammation. Moreover, the induced secretion of DR-associated pro-inflammatory biomarkers when exposing retinal explants to HG + Cyt suggests that this model could be used for clinically translatable retinal disease studies.

This study aims to develop a novel human organotypic retinal culture (HORC) model that prevents compromising retinal integrity during explant handling. This is achieved by culturing the retina with the overlying vitreous and the underlying retinal pigment&#160;epithelium-choroid (RPE-choroid) and sclera.

Caratterizzazione di una nuova tecnica di coltura retinica organotipica umana

Previous human organotypic retinal culture (HORC) models have utilized detached retinas; however, without the structural support conferred by retinal ...