We acknowledge the Mayo Clinic Microscopy Cell Analysis Core Flow Cytometry Facility for assistance with FACS sorting.

All animal experimental procedures were performed under approval by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
1. Solution preparation 
<ol>
	<li>Prepare collagenase 2% (w/v) solution by dissolving collagenase II 2 g in 100 mL Hanks&#39; balanced salt solution (HBSS). Aliquot 200 &#181;L each for each use.</li>
	<li>Prepare neutralization medium by mixing 84 mL F-12 medium, 15 mL horse serum, and 1 mL penicillin/streptomycin.</li>
	<li>Prepare flow cytometr...

<ol>
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P., Scheller, E. L., MacDougald, O. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adipose+tissue+stem+cells+meet+preadipocyte+commitment:+going+back+to+the+future.">Adipose tissue stem cells meet preadipocyte commitment: going back to the future.</a> Journal of Lipid Research. 53, 227-246 (2012).</li><li>Cho, D. S., Lee, B., Doles, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Refining+the+adipose+progenitor+cell+landscape+in+healthy+and+obese+visceral+adipose+tissue+using+single-cell+gene+expression+profiling.">Refining the adipose progenitor cell landscape in healthy and obese visceral adipose tissue using single-cell gene expression profiling.</a> Life Science Alliance. 2, 201900561 (2019).</li><li>Burl, R. B., 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=Deconstructing+Adipogenesis+Induced+by+beta3-Adrenergic+Receptor+Activation+with+Single-Cell+Expression+Profiling.">Deconstructing Adipogenesis Induced by beta3-Adrenergic Receptor Activation with Single-Cell Expression Profiling.</a> Cell Metabolism. 28, 300-309 (2018).</li><li>Hepler, 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=Identification+of+functionally+distinct+fibro-inflammatory+and+adipogenic+stromal+subpopulations+in+visceral+adipose+tissue+of+adult+mice.">Identification of functionally distinct fibro-inflammatory and adipogenic stromal subpopulations in visceral adipose tissue of adult mice.</a> eLife. 7, 39636 (2018).</li><li>Merrick, 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=Identification+of+a+mesenchymal+progenitor+cell+hierarchy+in+adipose+tissue.">Identification of a mesenchymal progenitor cell hierarchy in adipose tissue.</a> Science. 364, 2501 (2019).</li><li>Schwalie, P. 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=A+stromal+cell+population+that+inhibits+adipogenesis+in+mammalian+fat+depots.">A stromal cell population that inhibits adipogenesis in mammalian fat depots.</a> Nature. 559, 103-108 (2018).</li><li>Raajendiran, 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=Identification+of+Metabolically+Distinct+Adipocyte+Progenitor+Cells+in+Human+Adipose+Tissues.">Identification of Metabolically Distinct Adipocyte Progenitor Cells in Human Adipose Tissues.</a> Cell Reports. 27, 1528-1540 (2019).</li><li>De Matteis, R., 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=In+vivo+physiological+transdifferentiation+of+adult+adipose+cells.">In vivo physiological transdifferentiation of adult adipose cells.</a> Stem Cells. 27, 2761-2768 (2009).</li><li>Hanamsagar, R., 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=An+optimized+workflow+for+single-cell+transcriptomics+and+repertoire+profiling+of+purified+lymphocytes+from+clinical+samples.">An optimized workflow for single-cell transcriptomics and repertoire profiling of purified lymphocytes from clinical samples.</a> Scientific Reports. 10, 2219 (2020).</li><li>Marinovic, M. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is rapidly gaining traction as a powerful tool to simultaneously study diverse cell populations at the single cell level. Due to high costs associated with sample preparation and high throughput sequencing, it is imperative to optimize cellular inputs (high viability and purity) to increase the likelihood of experimental success. Some cell preparation protocols rely on removal of dead cells and debris using low-spin washes and column-based separation without FACS sorting<sup class="...

Adipose tissue plays a key role in energy metabolism. Excess energy is stored in the form of lipids, and adipose tissue is capable of significant expansion or retraction depending on nutritional status and energetic demand. Expansion of adipose tissue can result from an increase in adipocyte size (hypertrophy) and/or from an increase in adipocyte number (hyperplasia); the latter process tightly regulated by proliferation and differentiation of adipose progenitor cells1,2. During obesity, adipose tissue excessively expands, and tissue dysfunction &#8211; including hypoxia, inflammation, and insulin resistance &#8211; often develops3,4. These complications are risk factors to many chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancer5. Hence, limiting uncontrolled adipose tissue expansion and mitigating adipose tissue pathologies are top biomedical research priorities. During adipose tissue expansion, resident adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) proliferate and differentiate sequentially into preadipocytes (committed progenitor cells) and then into mature adipocytes6. Recent single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) studies show that these adipose progenitor cell (APC) populations (ASCs and preadipocytes) exhibit substantial molecular and functional heterogeneity7,8,9,10,11,12. For example, ASCs display a reduced adipogenic differentiation capacity, while also exhibiting higher proliferation and expansion capabilities, compared to preadipocytes7. Further molecular differences are reported within ASC and preadipocyte populations, although the functional relevance of these differences remains unclear7. Together, these data highlight the complexity of the adipose progenitor cell pool and underscore the need to develop and standardize tools to better understand and manipulate these critical cell populations.
This protocol details the isolation of high viability Sca1+ adipose progenitor cell populations from mouse epididymal fat pads that are suitable for sensitive downstream analyses, including single-cell studies (scRNA-sequencing) and cell culture. Isolation and dissociation of epididymal fat pads was performed as previously described7,13 with slight modifications that improve the viability of isolated APCs. In brief, dissociated cells from epididymal fat pads are stained with antibodies against Sca1, a marker for both ASCs and preadipocytes6,7, and other lineage (Lin) markers: Ter119 (erythroid cells), CD31 (endothelial cells), and CD45 (leukocytes). Viable Sca1+/Ter119-/CD31-/CD45-/DAPI- cells are then sorted by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Importantly, this protocol was validated by successful isolation and analysis of viable Sca1+/Lin- adipose progenitor cells reported in a recent single cell RNA sequencing study that identified functionally heterogeneous subpopulations within ASCs and preadipocytes7.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:799px;" width="799">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">1.7 mL microcentrifuge tube</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">87003-294</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">13 mL culture tube</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">50-809-216</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">15 mL conical tube</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Greiner Bio-one</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">188 271</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">5 mL test tube with cell strainer snap cap</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">08-771-23</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">50 mL conical tube</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Greiner Bio-one</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">227 261</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">70 &#181;m cell strainer</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">22-363-548</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Anti-CD31-FITC antibody</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-102-519</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Anti-CD45-FITC antibody</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-102-491</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Anti-Sca1-APC antibody</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-102-833</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Anti-Ter119-FITC antibody</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-112-908</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">BSA</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Gold Biotechnology</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A-420-500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Collagenase type II</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">17101-015</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">DAPI</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D1306</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Dulbecco&#39;s phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS)</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14190-144</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">F-12 medium</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11765-054</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">FcR blocking reagent</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-092-575</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Hanks&#39; balanced salt solution (HBSS)</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">14025-092</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Horse serum</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16050-122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Penicillin-streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15140-122</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:332px;">Propidium iodide solution</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">130-093-233</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

preparation of adipose progenitor cells from mouse epididymal adipose tissues

Obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, are all associated with dramatic adipose tissue remodeling. Tissue-resident adipose progenitor cells (APCs) play a key role in adipose tissue homeostasis and can contribute to the tissue pathology. The growing use of single cell analysis technologies &#8211; including single-cell RNA-sequencing and single-cell proteomics &#8211; is transforming the stem/progenitor cell field by permitting unprecedented resolution of individual cell expression changes within the context of population- or tissue-wide changes. In this article, we provide detailed protocols to dissect mouse epididymal adipose tissue, isolate single adipose tissue-derived cells, and perform fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to enrich for viable Sca1+/CD31-/CD45-/Ter119- APCs. These protocols will allow investigators to prepare high quality APCs suitable for downstream analyses such as single cell RNA sequencing.

Four-month-old male FVB mice were used in this experiment. After exclusion of debris and doublets using FSC/SSC plots, viable cells (DAPI- population) were gated, followed by the selection of APC+/FITC- population (Figure 1). DAPI, APC, and FITC gates were drawn based on the unstained control. Gating strategies are shown in Figure 1.
After 1 h of sorting, the quality of isolation was quantitatively eva...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Preparation of Adipose Progenitor Cells from Mouse Epididymal Adipose Tissues at JoVE.com

Preparation of Adipose Progenitor Cells from Mouse Epididymal Adipose Tissues

We present a simple method to isolate highly viable adipose progenitor cells from mouse epididymal fat pads using fluorescence activated cell sorting.

Obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, are all associated with dramatic adipose tissue remodeling. Tissue-resident ...

This protocol makes it possible to isolate high-quality adipose progenitor cells from mouse epididymal adipose tissue for sensitive downstream analysis. This technique yields highly viable adipose progenitor cells and has been validated in a recent single-cell RNA sequencing study. After euthanizing the male mouse, locate the epididymal fat pad and pull on it gently with blunt forceps to deliberate it.Use scissors to remove the testes and incubate the epididymal fat pad in five milliliters of HBSS supplemented with 3%BSA in a 50 milliliter conical tube for 15 minutes. After the incubation, centrifuge the tube at 150 x g for seven minutes at four degrees Celsius. Remove the floating epididymal fat pad from the conical tube and finely mince it with clean scissors.Add 200 milliliters of 2%collagenase solution to 3.8 milliliters of HBSS in a 13 milliliter culture tube. Then add the minced tissue and incubate it in a rotating incubator at five RPM for one hour at 37 degrees Celsius. Transfer the entire contents into a 50 milliliter conical tube and add 10 milliliters of neutralization medium.Mix gently by inverting the tube two to three times. Prepare another 50 milliliter conical tube fitted with a 70 micrometer cell strainer and filtered the digested tissue into the new tube. Transfer the flow through to a 15 milliliter tube and centrifuges at 350 x g per 10 minutes at four degrees Celsius.Carefully remove the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet with five milliliters of DPBS. Then centrifuge the tube for another 10 minutes. Carefully remove the supernatant and add 50 microliters of flow cytometry buffer.Mix the cells by pipetting gently and keep them on ice. The total volume of the cells in the flow cytometry buffer will be approximately 100 microliters. After mixing the cells, transfer 54 microliters of the cell suspension into a 1.7 milliliter microcentrifuge tube.Add six microliters of FCR blocking reagent and pipette gently to mix. Then incubate the tube at four degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Keep any leftover cells on ice to use as unstained control.During the incubation, prepare an antibody cocktail by combining 11 microliters each of anti-Sca1-APC, anti-Ter119-FITC, anti-CD31-FITC, and anti-CD45-FITC antibodies in a microcentrifuge tube. Gently pipette the mixture and keep it on ice protected from light. After the incubation with FCR blocking reagent, add 40 microliters of the antibody cocktail and mix well with gentle pipetting.Incubate the cells at four degrees Celsius for another 10 minutes. Add 500 microliters of flow cytometry buffer supplemented with one microgram per milliliter DAPI into the stain cells. Mix well and filter the cells using a five milliliter test tube with a cell strainer snap cap.Then keep the cells on ice. Add 500 microliters of flow cytometry buffer to the unstained cells and mix by pipetting gently. Use a five milliliter test tube with a cell strainer snap cap to filter the cells and keep them on ice.Transport the stained cells and unstained control to the FACS analysis or sorting instrument. Identify and isolate the APC-positive, FITC-negative, DAPI-negative population using the gating strategies described in the text manuscript. Use the unstained controls to aid in setting gating parameters.After exclusion of debris and doublets using FSC-SSC plots, viable cells were gated followed by the selection of the APC-positive, FITC-negative population. DAPI, APC and FITC gates were drawn based on the unstained control. The following results show the isolation of adipose progenitor cells from four-month-old male FVB mice.After one hour of sorting, the quality of isolation was quantitatively evaluated by flow cytometry analysis, which demonstrated that the cells maintained high viability and purity. Sensitive downstream analysis can be performed after this protocol such as single-cell RNA sequencing, quantitative real-time PCR and flow cytometry. This will enable further characterization of the adipose progenitor cells.Adipose progenitor cells are heterogeneous populations that require further single-cell studies. This method makes it possible to isolate the cells suitable for single-cell studies.

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5.4K Views.  Mayo Clinic. This protocol makes it possible to isolate high-quality adipose progenitor cells from mouse epididymal adipose tissue for sensitive downstream analysis. This technique yields highly viable adipose progenitor cells and has been validated in a recent single-cell RNA sequencing study. After euthanizing the male mouse, locate the epididymal fat pad and pull on it gently with blunt forceps to deliberate it.Use scissors to remove the testes and incubate the epididymal fat pad in five millili...