This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant (R01 HL086699, HL086699-01A2S1, 1S10RR027327-01) to MM. Our article is partly supported by Carl Zeiss Microimaging LLC.

Reactive oxygen species can be measured in live cells using oxidation sensitive dyes (1 &amp; 2) or using plasmid sensors (3 &amp; 4) by confocal microscopy. 
1. Visualization of cytosolic ROS in J774 cells
<ol>
	<li>Grow J774.1 mouse monocyte-derived macrophages (106 cells/ml) on glass bottom 35-mm dishes (Harvard Apparatus) for 48 h. </li>
	<li>Challenge cells with TLR agonists (2 &mu;g/ml, Lipo-teichoic acid-TLR2 agonist; 10&mu;g/ml, Poly (I:C)-TLR3 agonist; 1 &mu;g/ml LPS-TLR4...

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Biol. 190, 391-405 (2010).</li><li>Madesh, M., Hajnoczky, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=VDAC-dependent+permeabilization+of+the+outer+mitochondrial+membrane+by+superoxide+induces+rapid+and+massive+cytochrome+c+release.">VDAC-dependent permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane by superoxide induces rapid and massive cytochrome c release.</a> J. Cell Biol. 155, 1003-1015 (2001).</li><li>Finkel, T., Holbrook, N. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oxidants+oxidative+stress+and+the+biology+of+ageing.">Oxidants oxidative stress and the biology of ageing.</a> Nature. 408, 239-247 (2000).</li><li>Rittirsch, D., Flierl, M. A., Ward, P. 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The method described here allows rapid and quantitative measurement of reactive oxygen species in living cells either using oxidation sensitive dyes or plasmid sensors. Agonists of TLRs (Toll-like receptors) are compounds that stimulate the cells through the TLRs present on the cell surface and trigger the downstream signaling pathways15. In our protocol, we used three different TLR agonists viz., Lipo-teichoic acid-TLR2 agonist; Poly (I:C)-TLR3 agonist; LPS-TLR4 agonist which are reported to induce ROS as a m...

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Reagent</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalogue number</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Attofluor cell chamber</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>A7816</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antimycin A</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>A8674</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM low glucose medium</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>10567-014</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Endothelial growth factor supplement (ECGS)</td>
			<td>Upstate</td>
			<td>02-102</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>12662011</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>G418</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>10131-027</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gelatin</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>G1393</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>H2DCFDA</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>D-399</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LPS</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>L4516</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LTA</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>L2515</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MitoSOX Red</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>M36008</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Opti-MEM I Reduced Serum Medium</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>51985091</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pen/Strep (10x)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15140163</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pHyPer-cyto</td>
			<td>Evrogen</td>
			<td>FP941</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pHyPer-dMito</td>
			<td>Evrogen</td>
			<td>FP942</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly(I:C)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>P0913</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Prism software 5.0</td>
			<td>GraphPad Software, Inc.</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SigmaPlot 11.0</td>
			<td>Systat software, Inc.</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin-EDTA (10x)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15400054</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T-25 Flasks</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430639</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T-75 Flasks</td>
			<td>BD Falcon</td>
			<td>353136</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-well TC micro well plate</td>
			<td>BD Falcon</td>
			<td>353072</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zen 2009 software</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss 510 Meta confocal microscopy</td>
			<td>&nbsp;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

visualization of vascular ca2+ signaling triggered by paracrine derived ros

Oxidative stress has been implicated in a number of pathologic conditions including ischemia/reperfusion damage and sepsis. The concept of oxidative stress refers to the aberrant formation of ROS (reactive oxygen species), which include O2&bull;-, H2O2, and hydroxyl radicals. Reactive oxygen species influences a multitude of cellular processes including signal transduction, cell proliferation and cell death1-6. ROS have the potential to damage vascular and organ cells directly, and can initiate secondary chemical reactions and genetic alterations that ultimately result in an amplification of the initial ROS-mediated tissue damage. A key component of the amplification cascade that exacerbates irreversible tissue damage is the recruitment and activation of circulating inflammatory cells. During inflammation, inflammatory cells produce cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-&alpha; (TNF&alpha;) and IL-1 that activate endothelial cells (EC) and epithelial cells and further augment the inflammatory response7. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an established feature of acute inflammation. Macrophages contribute to endothelial dysfunction during inflammation by mechanisms that remain unclear. Activation of macrophages results in the extracellular release of O2&bull;- and various pro-inflammatory cytokines, which triggers pathologic signaling in adjacent cells8. NADPH oxidases are the major and primary source of ROS in most of the cell types. Recently, it is shown by us and others9,10 that ROS produced by NADPH oxidases induce the mitochondrial ROS production during many pathophysiological conditions. Hence measuring the mitochondrial ROS production is equally important in addition to measuring cytosolic ROS. Macrophages produce ROS by the flavoprotein enzyme NADPH oxidase which plays a primary role in inflammation. Once activated, phagocytic NADPH oxidase produces copious amounts of O2&bull;- that are important in the host defense mechanism11,12. Although paracrine-derived O2&bull;- plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases, visualization of paracrine ROS-induced intracellular signaling including Ca2+ mobilization is still hypothesis. We have developed a model in which activated macrophages are used as a source of O2&bull;- to transduce a signal to adjacent endothelial cells. Using this model we demonstrate that macrophage-derived O2&bull;- lead to calcium signaling in adjacent endothelial cells.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Visualization of Vascular Ca2+ Signaling Triggered by Paracrine Derived ROS at JoVE.com

Visualization of Vascular Ca2+ Signaling Triggered by Paracrine Derived ROS

An efficient method to gain insights into visualizing the paracrine-derived ROS induction of endothelial Ca2+ signaling is described. This method takes advantage of measuring paracrine derived ROS triggered Ca2+ mobilization in vascular endothelial cells in a co-culture model.

Visualization of Vascular Ca2+ Signaling Triggered by Paracrine Derived ROS

Oxidative stress has been implicated in a number of pathologic conditions including ischemia/reperfusion damage and sepsis. The concept of oxidative ...

visualization-vascular-ca2-signaling-triggered-paracrine-derived

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15.4K ビュー.  Temple University. 内皮のCa2 +シグナリングのパラクリン由来ROSの誘導を可視化についての洞察を得るために効率的な方法が記載されている。このメソッドは、共培養モデルにおける血管内皮細胞におけるCa 2 +の動員を引き起こしたパラクリン由来ROSを測定を利用しています。

ビデオ: Visualization of Vascular Ca2+ Signaling Triggered by Paracrine Derived ROS

An efficient method to gain insights into visualizing the paracrine-derived ROS induction of endothelial Ca2+ signaling is described. This method takes advantage of measuring paracrine derived ROS triggered Ca2+ mobilization in vascular endothelial cells in a co-culture...

mitochondrial ca2+ retention capacity assay and ca2+-triggered mitochondrial swelling assay

Mitochondrial Ca2+ Retention Capacity Assay and Ca2+-triggered Mitochondrial Swelling Assay

This protocol aims to describe a method to examine the Ca2+ retention capacity and Ca2+- triggered mitochondrial swelling of isolated mitochondria of SH-SY5Y cells...

Mitochondrial Ca2+ Retention Capacity Assay and Ca2+-triggered Mitochondrial Swelling Assay

modeling paracrine noncanonical wnt signaling in vitro

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

The present study outlines a highly reproducible and tractable method to study paracrine noncanonical Wnt signaling events in vitro. This protocol was applied to evaluate the impact of paracrine Wnt5a signaling in murine neural crest cells and myoblasts.

Modeling Paracrine Noncanonical Wnt Signaling In Vitro

3d visualization of retinal vascular pericytes in mice by immunostaining 

Author Spotlight: Advanced Imaging Techniques for Studying Retinal Pericyte Morphology and Spatial Distribution

The pericytes in retinal vasculature were examined by immunofluorescent staining with platelet-derived growth factor receptor &#946; after retro-orbital injection of fluorescent tomato lectin. The labeled retina was further treated with the tissue-clearing method and whole mounted for visualizing the three-dimensional views of pericytes surrounding retinal vasculature under a confocal...

3D Visualization of Retinal Vascular Pericytes in Mice by Immunostaining 

a proximal culture method to study paracrine signaling between cells

A Proximal Culture Method to Study Paracrine Signaling Between Cells

Paracrine and juxtacrine cellular interactions play an important role in many biological processes, including tumor progression, immune responses, angiogenesis, and development. Here, a proximal culture method is used to study paracrine signaling where the localized concentrations of the secreted factors are maintained while preventing direct cellular...

techniques for imaging ca2+ signaling in human sperm

Techniques for Imaging Ca2+ Signaling in Human Sperm

Stimulus-evoked [Ca2+]i signals of individual human sperm are assessed. Motile cells are loaded with Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye (AM-ester method) and immobilised in a perfusable chamber. Cells are imaged by time-lapse fluorescence microscopy and stimulated via the perfusing medium. Responses of single cells (or regions) are analysed offline using...

Techniques for Imaging Ca2+ Signaling in Human Sperm

proximal culture system: an in vitro culture technique to  study paracrine signaling between cells

In this video, we develop a proximal co-culture model of ovarian cancer cells and primary human mesothelial cells. This physiologically relevant model allows the study of paracrine signaling, where the localized concentrations of the secreted factors are maintained while preventing direct cellular...

Proximal Culture System: An In Vitro Culture Technique to  Study Paracrine Signaling Between Cells

After counting, dilute the cells to a 100,000 ovarian cancer cells per milliliter of complete growth medium concentration, and place three inverted 0.4-micrometer pore tissue-culture-treated polycarbonate membrane cell culture inserts per experimental condition in an appropriately sized sterile tissue culture dish. Label the inserts according to the experimental condition, and carefully pipet the cancer cells onto the bottom of each insert in concentric circles, starting from the middle of the...

dissection of local ca2+ signals in cultured cells by membrane-targeted ca2+ indicators

Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+ Indicators

Here we present a protocol for Ca2+ imaging in neurons and glial cells, which enables the dissection of Ca2+ signals at subcellular resolution. This process is applicable to all cell types that allow the expression of genetically encoded Ca2+...

Dissection of Local Ca2+ Signals in Cultured Cells by Membrane-targeted Ca2+ Indicators

image-guided, laser-based fabrication of vascular-derived microfluidic networks

Image-guided, Laser-based Fabrication of Vascular-derived Microfluidic Networks

This protocol outlines the implementation of image-guided, laser-based hydrogel degradation to fabricate vascular-derived, biomimetic microfluidic networks embedded in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels. These biomimetic microfluidic systems may be useful for tissue engineering applications, generation of in vitro disease models, and fabrication of advanced "on-a-chip"...

dual raster-scanning photoacoustic small-animal imager for vascular visualization

Dual Raster-Scanning Photoacoustic Small-Animal Imager for Vascular Visualization

A dual raster-scanning photoacoustic imager was designed, which integrated wide-field imaging and real-time...

determination of ros production by neutrophils upon interaction with opsonized biofilm

In this video, we demonstrate an in vitro chemiluminescence assay to detect the generation of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils upon exposure to an opsonized bacterial...

Determination of ROS Production by Neutrophils upon Interaction with Opsonized Biofilm

c-section of preclinical animal model of chorioamnionitis triggered by group b streptococcus (gbs)

C-section of Preclinical Animal Model of Chorioamnionitis Triggered by Group B Streptococcus GBS

The goal of this protocol is to describe a preclinical animal model of Group B Streptococcus (GBS)-induced chorioamnionitis. The study is designed to investigate mechanistic processes, potential causal links with developmental impairments, and finally to develop translational anti-inflammatory placento- and neuro-protective...

C-section of Preclinical Animal Model of Chorioamnionitis Triggered by Group B Streptococcus (GBS)

Add luminol to the neutrophils resuspended in HBSS to make up a final concentration of 5 micromolar luminol. This solution is ready to use for groups A and C. Add neutrophils mixed with luminol to the wells with opsonized...

applications of spatio-temporal mapping and particle analysis techniques to quantify intracellular ca2+ signaling in situ

Applications of Spatio-temporal Mapping and Particle Analysis Techniques to Quantify Intracellular Ca2+ Signaling In Situ

Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators (GECIs) have radically changed how in situ Ca2+ imaging is performed. To maximize data recovery from such recordings, appropriate analysis of Ca2+ signals is required. The protocols in this paper facilitate the quantification of Ca2+ signals recorded in situ using spatiotemporal mapping and particle-based...

Applications of Spatio-temporal Mapping and Particle Analysis Techniques to Quantify Intracellular Ca2+ Signaling In Situ

visualization of vascular and parenchymal regeneration after 70% partial hepatectomy in normal mice

Visualization of Vascular and Parenchymal Regeneration after 70% Partial Hepatectomy in Normal Mice

Tools used for visualizing vascular regeneration require methods for contrasting the vascular trees. This film demonstrated a delicate injection technique used to achieve optimal contrasting of the vascular trees and illustrate the potential benefits resulting from a detailed analysis of the resulting specimen using &#181;CT and histological serial...

dii perfusion as a method for vascular visualization in ambystoma mexicanum

DiI Perfusion as a Method for Vascular Visualization in Ambystoma mexicanum

Using a lipophilic 1,1&#39;-Dioctadecy-3,3,3&#39;,3&#39;-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) staining technique, Ambystoma mexicanum can undergo vascular perfusion to allow for easy visualization of the...

DiI Perfusion as a Method for Vascular Visualization in Ambystoma mexicanum

visualization of inflammatory caspases induced proximity in human monocyte-derived macrophages

Visualization of Inflammatory Caspases Induced Proximity in Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

This protocol describes the workflow to obtain monocytes-derived macrophages (MDM) from human blood samples, a simple method to efficiently introduce inflammatory caspase Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) reporters into human MDM without compromising cell viability and behavior, and an imaging-based approach to measure inflammatory caspase activation in living...

visualization of caspase activation in human monocyte-derived macrophages

Enter the transfection parameters in the startup screen displayed. Press on Voltage, enter 1,000, and press Done to set it to 1000 volts. Press on Width, enter 40, and press Done to set the pulse to 40 milliseconds. Lastly, press on # Pulses, enter two, and press Done to set the number of electrical pulses to...

Visualization of Caspase Activation in Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

Fluorescence microscopy of cells loaded with fluorescent, Ca2+-sensitive dyes is used for measurement of spatial and temporal aspects of Ca2+ signaling in live cells. Here we describe the method used in our laboratories for loading suspensions of human sperm with Ca2+-reporting dyes and measuring the fluorescence signal during physiological stimulation. Motile cells are isolated by direct swim-up and incubated under capacitating conditions for 0-24 h, depending upon the experiment. The cell-permeant AM (acetoxy methyl ester) ester form of the Ca2+-reporting dye is then added to a cell aliquot and a period of 1 h is allowed for loading of the dye into the cytoplasm. We use visible wavelength dyes to minimize photo-damage to the cells, but this means that ratiometric recording is not possible. Advantages and disadvantages of this approach are discussed. During the loading period cells are introduced into an imaging chamber and allowed to adhere to a poly-D-lysine coated coverslip. At the end of the loading period excess dye and loose cells are removed by connection of the chamber to the perfusion apparatus. The chamber is perfused continuously, stimuli and modified salines are then added to the perfusion header. Experiments are recorded by time-lapse acquisition of fluorescence images and analyzed in detail offline, by manually drawing regions of interest. Data are normalized to pre-stimulus levels such that, for each cell (or part of a cell), a graph showing the Ca2+ response as % change in fluorescence is obtained.

Stimulus-evoked [Ca2+]i signals of individual human sperm are assessed. Motile cells are loaded with Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye (AM-ester method) and immobilised in a perfusable chamber. Cells are imaged by time-lapse fluorescence microscopy and stimulated via the perfusing medium. Responses of single cells (or regions) are analysed offline using Excel.

Fluorescence microscopy of cells loaded with fluorescent, Ca2+-sensitive dyes is used for measurement of spatial and temporal aspects of Ca2+ signaling in ...

Visualization of ATP Synthase Dimers in Mitochondria by Electron Cryo-tomography

Electron cryo-tomography is a powerful tool in structural biology, capable of visualizing the three-dimensional structure of biological samples, such as cells, organelles, membrane vesicles, or viruses at molecular detail. To achieve this, the aqueous sample is rapidly vitrified in liquid ethane, which preserves it in a close-to-native, frozen-hydrated state. In the electron microscope, tilt series are recorded at liquid nitrogen temperature, from which 3D tomograms are reconstructed. The signal-to-noise ratio of the tomographic volume is inherently low. Recognizable, recurring features are enhanced by subtomogram averaging, by which individual subvolumes are cut out, aligned and averaged to reduce noise. In this way, 3D maps with a resolution of 2 nm or better can be obtained. A fit of available high-resolution structures to the 3D volume then produces atomic models of protein complexes in their native environment. Here we show how we use electron cryo-tomography to study the in situ organization of large membrane protein complexes in mitochondria. We find that ATP synthases are organized in rows of dimers along highly curved apices of the inner membrane cristae, whereas complex I is randomly distributed in the membrane regions on either side of the rows. By subtomogram averaging we obtained a structure of the mitochondrial ATP synthase dimer within the cristae membrane.

We present a protocol of how to collect and process electron cryo-tomograms of whole mitochondria. The technique provides detailed insights into the structure, function, and organization of large membrane protein complexes in native biological membranes.

Electron cryo-tomography is a powerful tool in structural biology, capable of visualizing the three-dimensional structure of biological samples, such as ...

Automated Analysis of Dynamic Ca2+ Signals in Image Sequences

Intracellular Ca2+ signals are commonly studied with fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dyes and microscopy techniques. However, quantitative analysis of Ca2+ imaging data is time consuming and subject to bias. Automated signal analysis algorithms based on region of interest (ROI) detection have been implemented for one-dimensional line scan measurements, but there is no current algorithm which integrates optimized identification and analysis of ROIs in two-dimensional image sequences. Here an algorithm for rapid acquisition and analysis of ROIs in image sequences is described. It utilizes ellipses fit to noise filtered signals in order to determine optimal ROI placement, and computes Ca2+ signal parameters of amplitude, duration and spatial spread. This algorithm was implemented as a freely available plugin for ImageJ (NIH) software. Together with analysis scripts written for the open source statistical processing software R, this approach provides a high-capacity pipeline for performing quick statistical analysis of experimental output. The authors suggest that use of this analysis protocol will lead to a more complete and unbiased characterization of physiologic Ca2+ signaling.

Automated Analysis of Dynamic Ca2+ Signals in Image Sequences

Here a novel region of interest analysis protocol based on sorting best-fit ellipses assigned to regions of positive signal within two-dimensional time lapse image sequences is demonstrated. This algorithm may enable investigators to comprehensively analyze physiological Ca2+ signals with minimal user input and bias.

Intracellular Ca2+ signals are commonly studied with fluorescent Ca2+ indicator dyes and microscopy techniques. However, quantitative analysis of Ca2+ ...

Perfusion techniques have been used for centuries to visualize the circulation of tissues. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a species of salamander that has emerged as an essential model for regeneration studies. Little is known about how revascularization occurs in the context of regeneration in these animals. Here we report a simple method for visualization of the vasculature in axolotl via perfusion of 1,1&#8217;-Dioctadecy-3,3,3&#8217;,3&#8217;-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI). DiI is a lipophilic carbocyanine dye that inserts into the plasma membrane of endothelial cells instantaneously. Perfusion is done using a peristaltic pump such that DiI enters the circulation through the aorta. During perfusion, dye flows through the axolotl&#8217;s blood vessels and incorporates into the lipid bilayer of vascular endothelial cells upon contact. The perfusion procedure takes approximately one hour for an eight-inch axolotl. Immediately after perfusion with DiI, the axolotl can be visualized with a confocal fluorescent microscope. The DiI emits light in the red-orange range when excited with a green fluorescent filter. This DiI perfusion procedure can be used to visualize the vascular structure of axolotls or to demonstrate patterns of revascularization in regenerating tissues.

Using a lipophilic 1,1&#39;-Dioctadecy-3,3,3&#39;,3&#39;-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) staining technique, Ambystoma mexicanum can undergo vascular perfusion to allow for easy visualization of the vasculature.

Perfusion techniques have been used for centuries to visualize the circulation of tissues. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a species of salamander that ...

Visualization of DNA Compaction in Cyanobacteria by High-voltage Cryo-electron Tomography

This protocol describes how to visualize the transient DNA compaction in cyanobacteria. DNA compaction is a dramatic cytoplasmic event recently found to occur in some cyanobacteria before cell division. However, due to the large cell size and the transient character, it is difficult to investigate the structure in detail. To overcome the difficulties, first, DNA compaction is reproducibly produced in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 by synchronous culture using 12 h each light/dark cycle. Second, DNA compaction is monitored by fluorescence microscopy and captured by rapid freezing. Third, the detailed structure of DNA compacted cells is visualized in three dimensions (3D) by high voltage cryo-electron tomography. This set of methods is widely applicable to investigate transient structures in bacteria, e.g. cell division, chromosome segregation, phage infection etc., which are monitored by fluorescence microscopy and directly visualized by cryo-electron tomography at appropriate time points.

This protocol describes how to visualize the transient DNA compaction in cyanobacteria. Synchronous cultivation, monitoring by fluorescence microscopy, rapid freezing, and high voltage cryo-electron tomography are used. A protocol for these methodologies is presented, and future applications and developments are discussed.

This protocol describes how to visualize the transient DNA compaction in cyanobacteria. DNA compaction is a dramatic cytoplasmic event recently found to ...

Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-&#946; Signaling

Phenotypic plasticity of endothelial cells underlies cardiovascular system development, cardiovascular diseases, and various conditions associated with organ fibrosis. In these conditions, differentiated endothelial cells acquire mesenchymal-like phenotypes. This process is called endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and is characterized by downregulation of endothelial markers, upregulation of mesenchymal markers, and morphological changes. EndMT is induced by several signaling pathways, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-&#946;, Wnt, and Notch, and regulated by molecular mechanisms similar to those of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) important for gastrulation, tissue fibrosis, and cancer metastasis. Understanding the mechanisms of EndMT is important to develop diagnostic and therapeutic approaches targeting EndMT. Robust induction of EndMT in vitro is useful to characterize common gene expression signatures, identify druggable molecular mechanisms, and screen for modulators of EndMT. Here, we describe an in vitro method for induction of EndMT. MS-1 mouse pancreatic microvascular endothelial cells undergo EndMT after prolonged exposure to TGF-&#946; and show upregulation of mesenchymal markers and morphological changes as well as induction of multiple inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. Methods for the analysis of microRNA (miRNA) modulation are also included. These methods provide a platform to investigate mechanisms underlying EndMT and the contribution of miRNAs to EndMT.

Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-&amp;#946; Signaling

A protocol for in vitro induction of endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), which is useful for investigating cellular signaling pathways involved in EndMT, is described. In this experimental model, EndMT is induced by treatment with TGF-&#946; in MS-1 endothelial cells.

Phenotypic plasticity of endothelial cells underlies cardiovascular system development, cardiovascular diseases, and various conditions associated with ...

Retinal Cryo-sections, Whole-Mounts, and Hypotonic Isolated Vasculature Preparations for Immunohistochemical Visualization of Microvascular Pericytes

Retinal pericytes play an important role in many diseases of the eye. Immunohistochemical staining techniques of retinal vessels and microvascular pericytes are central to ophthalmological research. It is vital to choose an appropriate method of visualizing the microvascular pericytes. We describe retinal microvascular pericyte immunohistochemical staining in cryo-sections, whole-mounts, and hypotonic isolated vasculature using antibodies for platelet-derived growth factor receptor &#946; (PDGFR&#946;) and nerve/glial antigen 2 (NG2). This allows us to highlight advantages and shortcomings of each of the three tissue preparations for the visualization of the retinal microvascular pericytes. Cryo-sections provide transsectional visualization of all retinal layers but contain only a few occasional transverse cuts of the microvasculature. Whole-mount provides an overview of the entire retinal vasculature, but visualization of the microvasculature can be troublesome. Hypotonic isolation provides a method to visualize the entire retinal vasculature by the removal of neuronal cells, but this makes the tissue very fragile.

We demonstrate three different tissue preparation techniques for immunohistochemical visualization of rat retinal microvascular pericytes, i.e., cryo-sections, whole-mounts, and hypotonic isolation of the vascular network.

Retinal pericytes play an important role in many diseases of the eye. Immunohistochemical staining techniques of retinal vessels and microvascular ...

Intercellular interactions play an important role in many biological processes, including tumor progression, immune responses, angiogenesis, and development. Paracrine or juxtacrine signaling mediates such interactions. The use of a conditioned medium and coculture studies are the most common methods to discriminate between these two types of interactions. However, the effect of localized high concentrations of secreted factors in the microenvironment during the paracrine interactions is not accurately recapitulated by conditioned medium and, thus, may lead to imprecise conclusions. To overcome this problem, we have devised a proximal culture method to study paracrine signaling. The two cell types are grown on either surface of a 10 &#181;m-thick polycarbonate membrane with 0.4 &#181;m pores. The pores allow the exchange of secreted factors and, at the same time, inhibit juxtacrine signaling. The cells can be collected and lysed at the endpoint to determine the effects of the paracrine signaling. In addition to allowing for localized concentration gradients of secreted factors, this method is amenable to experiments involving prolonged periods of culture, as well as the use of inhibitors. While we use this method to study the interactions between ovarian cancer cells and the mesothelial cells they encounter at the site of metastasis, it can be adapted to any two adherent cell types for researchers to study paracrine signaling in various fields, including tumor microenvironment, immunology, and development.

Paracrine and juxtacrine cellular interactions play an important role in many biological processes, including tumor progression, immune responses, angiogenesis, and development. Here, a proximal culture method is used to study paracrine signaling where the localized concentrations of the secreted factors are maintained while preventing direct cellular contact.

Intercellular interactions play an important role in many biological processes, including tumor progression, immune responses, angiogenesis, and ...

Myeloid Innate Signaling Pathway Regulation by MALT1 Paracaspase Activity

Besides its function in lymphoid cells, which has been addressed by numerous studies, the paracaspase MALT1 also plays an important role in innate cells downstream of pattern recognition receptors. Best studied are the Dectin-1 and Dectin-2 members of the C-type lectin-like receptor family that induce a SYK- and CARD9-dependent signaling cascade leading to NF-&#954;B activation, in a MALT1-dependent manner. By contrast, Toll-like receptors (TLR), such as TLR-4, propagate NF-&#954;B activation but signal via an MYD88/IRAK-dependent cascade. Nonetheless, whether MALT1 might contribute to TLR-4 signaling has remained unclear. Recent evidence with MLT-827, a potent and selective inhibitor of MALT1 paracaspase activity, indicates that TNF- production downstream of TLR-4 in human myeloid cells is independent of MALT1, as opposed to TNF- production downstream of Dectin-1, which is MALT1 dependent. Here, we addressed the selective involvement of MALT1 in pattern recognition sensing further, using a variety of human and mouse cellular preparations, and stimulation of Dectin-1, MINCLE or TLR-4 pathways. We also provided additional insights by exploring cytokines beyond TNF-, and by comparing MLT-827 to a SYK inhibitor (Cpd11) and to an IKK inhibitor (AFN700). Collectively, the data provided further evidence for the MALT1-dependency of C-type lectin-like receptor &#8212;signaling by contrast to TLR-signaling.

MALT1 regulates innate immunity but how this occurs remains ill-defined. We used the selective MALT1 paracaspase inhibitor MLT-827 to unravel the contribution of MALT1 to innate signaling downstream of Toll-like or C-type lectin-like receptors, demonstrating that MALT1 regulates the production of myeloid cytokines, and downstream of C-type lectin-like receptors, selectively.

Besides its function in lymphoid cells, which has been addressed by numerous studies, the paracaspase MALT1 also plays an important role in innate cells ...

Ca2+ imaging of isolated cells or specific types of cells within intact tissues often reveals complex patterns of Ca2+ signaling. This activity requires careful and in-depth analyses and quantification to capture as much information about the underlying events as possible. Spatial, temporal and intensity parameters intrinsic to Ca2+ signals such as frequency, duration, propagation, velocity and amplitude may provide some biological information required for intracellular signalling. High-resolution Ca2+ imaging typically results in the acquisition of large data files that are time consuming to process in terms of translating the imaging information into quantifiable data, and this process can be susceptible to human error and bias. Analysis of Ca2+ signals from cells in situ typically relies on simple intensity measurements from arbitrarily selected regions of interest (ROI) within a field of view (FOV). This approach ignores much of the important signaling information contained in the FOV. Thus, in order to maximize recovery of information from such high-resolution recordings obtained with Ca2+dyes or optogenetic Ca2+ imaging, appropriate spatial and temporal analysis of the Ca2+ signals is required. The protocols outlined in this paper will describe how a high volume of data can be obtained from Ca2+ imaging recordings to facilitate more complete analysis and quantification of Ca2+ signals recorded from cells using a combination of spatiotemporal map (STM)-based analysis and particle-based analysis. The protocols also describe how different patterns of Ca2+ signaling observed in different cell populations in situ can be analyzed appropriately. For illustration, the method will examine Ca2+ signaling in a specialized population of cells in the small intestine, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), using GECIs.

Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators (GECIs) have radically changed how in situ Ca2+ imaging is performed. To maximize data recovery from such recordings, appropriate analysis of Ca2+ signals is required. The protocols in this paper facilitate the quantification of Ca2+ signals recorded in situ using spatiotemporal mapping and particle-based analysis.

Ca2+ imaging of isolated cells or specific types of cells within intact tissues often reveals complex patterns of Ca2+ signaling. This activity requires ...