This work was supported by the NRF grant HUJ-CREATE - Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Inflammation.

Mice were housed in pathogen-free conditions in compliance with the institutional guidelines until euthanization (The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines at the National University of Singapore and the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) guidelines).
1. Mice
<ol>
	<li>Order one mouse of the appropriate genetic background. This protocol is based on tissue derived from one C57BL/6 mouse.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of Complete Medium</p...

<ol>
	<li>Fitzpatrick, L. E., McDevitt, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell-derived+matrices+for+tissue+engineering+and+regenerative+medicine+applications.">Cell-derived matrices for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.</a> Biomater Sci. 3 (1), 12-24 (2015).</li><li>Elenbaas, 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=Human+breast+cancer+cells+generated+by+oncogenic+transformation+of+primary+epithelial+cells.">Human breast cancer cells generated by oncogenic transformation of primary epithelial cells.</a> Genes Dev. 15 (1), 50-65 (2001).</li><li>Stansley, B., Post, J., Hensley, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+comparative+review+of+cell+culture+systems+for+the+study+of+microglial+biology+in+Alzheimer's+disease.">A comparative review of cell culture systems for the study of microglial biology in Alzheimer's disease.</a> J Neuroinflammation. 9 (1), 115 (2012).</li><li>Lim, J., Dobson, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improved+transfection+of+HUVEC+and+MEF+cells+using+DNA+complexes+with+magnetic+nanoparticles+in+an+oscillating+field.">Improved transfection of HUVEC and MEF cells using DNA complexes with magnetic nanoparticles in an oscillating field.</a> J Genet. 91 (2), 223-227 (2012).</li><li>Li, 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=High-efficiency+transduction+of+fibroblasts+and+mesenchymal+stem+cells+by+tyrosine-mutant+AAV2+vectors+for+their+potential+use+in+cellular+therapy.">High-efficiency transduction of fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells by tyrosine-mutant AAV2 vectors for their potential use in cellular therapy.</a> Hum Gene Ther. 21 (11), 1527-1543 (2010).</li><li>Patel, M., Yang, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advances+in+reprogramming+somatic+cells+to+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Advances in reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells.</a> Stem Cell Rev. 6 (3), 367-380 (2010).</li><li>Newman, A. C., Nakatsu, M. N., Chou, W., Gershon, P. D., Hughes, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+requirement+for+fibroblasts+in+angiogenesis:+fibroblast-derived+matrix+proteins+are+essential+for+endothelial+cell+luman+formation.">The requirement for fibroblasts in angiogenesis: fibroblast-derived matrix proteins are essential for endothelial cell luman formation.</a> Mol Biol Cell. 22 (20), 3791-3800 (2011).</li><li>Ohlund, D., Elyada, E., Tuveson, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fibroblast+heterogeneity+in+the+cancer+wound.">Fibroblast heterogeneity in the cancer wound.</a> J Exp Med. 211 (8), 1503-1523 (2014).</li><li>Guo, S., Dipietro, L. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Factors+affecting+wound+healing.">Factors affecting wound healing.</a> J Dent Res. 89 (3), 219-229 (2010).</li><li>Werner, S., Krieg, T., Smola, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Keratinocyte-fibroblast+interactions+in+wound+healing.">Keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions in wound healing.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 127 (5), 998-1008 (2007).</li><li>Shen, Y. 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=Genome-derived+cytosolic+DNA+mediates+type+I+interferon-dependent+rejection+of+B+cell+lymphoma+cells.">Genome-derived cytosolic DNA mediates type I interferon-dependent rejection of B cell lymphoma cells.</a> Cell Rep. 11 (3), 460-473 (2015).</li><li>Seluanov, A., Vaidya, A., Gorbunova, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Establishing+primary+adult+fibroblast+cultures+from+rodents.">Establishing primary adult fibroblast cultures from rodents.</a> J Vis Exp. (44), (2010).</li><li>Baglole, C. 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=Isolation+and+phenotypic+characterization+of+lung+fibroblasts.">Isolation and phenotypic characterization of lung fibroblasts.</a> Methods Mol Med. 117, 115-127 (2005).</li><li>Alt, 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=Fibroblasts+share+mesenchymal+phenotypes+with+stem+cells,+but+lack+their+differentiation+and+colony-forming+potential.">Fibroblasts share mesenchymal phenotypes with stem cells, but lack their differentiation and colony-forming potential.</a> Biol Cell. 103 (4), 197-208 (2011).</li><li>Kuilman, T., Michaloglou, C., Mooi, W. J., Peeper, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+essence+of+senescence.">The essence of senescence.</a> Genes Dev. 24 (22), 2463-2479 (2010).</li><li>Lander, M. R., Moll, B., Rowe, W. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+procedure+for+culture+of+cells+from+mouse+tail+biopsies:+brief+communication.">A procedure for culture of cells from mouse tail biopsies: brief communication.</a> J Natl Cancer Inst. 60 (2), 477-478 (1978).</li><li>Moore, C. B., Allen, I. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+ear+fibroblast+derivation+from+mice.">Primary ear fibroblast derivation from mice.</a> Methods Mol Biol. (1031), 65-70 (2013).</li><li>Liu, 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=Generation+of+stable+pluripotent+stem+cells+from+NOD+mouse+tail-tip+fibroblasts.">Generation of stable pluripotent stem cells from NOD mouse tail-tip fibroblasts.</a> Diabetes. 60 (5), 1393-1398 (2011).</li></ol>

Here we provide a simple, inexpensive and fast experimental procedure to establish primary fibroblast cultures from ears and tails of mice. The extraction should result in adherent and rapidly dividing fibroblasts within 3 days post-isolation of the tissue. An important limitation of primary cells is senescence, a permanent growth arrest15. Using the protocol, fibroblast cultures can be passaged for 5 to 6 times before fibroblasts become senescent, indicated by the flattening of cells, increase in size (2-3 ti...

Primary cells are derived from living tissue and cultured under in vitro conditions. It is generally assumed that primary cells more closely resemble the physiological state and genetic background of the tissue from which they originated than immortalized or tumor cell lines1. For that reason, primary cells represent a useful model for studying biological questions2,3. However, unlike established cell lines that grow indefinitely, primary cells eventually undergo senescence in culture and need to be frequently re-established.
Commonly used primary cells include fibroblasts, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, T cells, B cells, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC). Fibroblasts are often utilized as primary cell culture model. They offer key advantages over other primary cells. Cell cultures are easily established, readily maintained and require no purification of cells prior to culture. They have rapid initial proliferation and no requirement for specialized medium or activation protocols. Fibroblasts can be efficiently transfected using biological, chemical, and physical protocols4,5. There is a possibility to store ears for up to 10 days at RT prior to establishing cell cultures. Fibroblast cultures are conducive to visualization of cytoplasmic processes and suitable for reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells6.
Fibroblasts are important cells of the connective tissue that secrete collagen proteins and extracellular matrix7. They provide the structural framework in many tissues8 and play an essential role in wound healing and tissue repair9,10.
Here, we describe a simple and quick (&#60;4 hr) protocol to establish fibroblast cultures from ears and tails of mice11. The protocol requires minimal mouse experience to harvest the tissues (in contrast to other protocols12,13) and can be used to establish cultures from ears stored in medium at RT for up to 10 days.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="642">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">RPMI-1640</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">HyClone</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SH30027.01</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Fetal Calf Serum</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">HyClone</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SV30160.03</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">2-mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M3148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Asparagine</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A4159</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Glutamine</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G8540</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">HyClone</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SV30010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ethanol</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Merck Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">107017</td>
			<td>Absolute for analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Collagenase D</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Roche Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11088866001</td>
			<td>From Clostridium histolyticum, lyophilized, non-sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Pronase protease</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Merck Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">53702</td>
			<td>From Streptomyces griseus&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Tris buffer (pH 8)</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">1st BASE</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1415</td>
			<td>Ultra pure grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">0.5M EDTA (pH 8)</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">1st BASE</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BUF-1053</td>
			<td>Biotechnology grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">10X Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">1st BASE</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BUF-2040-10X4L</td>
			<td>Ultra pure grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Trypsin-EDTA solution 10X</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">59418C-100ML</td>
			<td>0.5% trypsin, 0.2% EDTA, trypsin gamma irradiated by SER-TAIN process, without phenol red, in saline</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Amphotericin B</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A2492-20ml</td>
			<td>250 &#956;g/ml in deionized water, sterile-filtered</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Scissors</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Aesculap</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Forcep</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Aesculap</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AE-BD312R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">0.2 &#956;M syringe filter</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sartorius Stedim</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16534</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">70 &#956;M cell strainer</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">SPL</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">93070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Syringe plunger</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Terumo</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SS+10L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Cryovial tube</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">NUNC</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">368362</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">1.7 ml microcentrifuge tube</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Axygen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">MCT-175-C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">10 cm cell culture dish</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Greiner</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">664160</td>
			<td>Cell culture treated dish&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">15 ml conical bottom tube</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Greiner</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">188271</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">50 ml conical bottom tube</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Greiner</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">227261</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Water bath</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">GFL</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Eppendorf</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">5810R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Incubation shaker</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sartorius Stedim</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Certomat-BS1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Zeiss Axiovert 25 light microscope</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Carl Zeiss AG</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

generating primary fibroblast cultures from mouse ear and tail tissues

Primary cells are derived directly from tissue and are thought to be more representative of the physiological state of cells in vivo than established cell lines. However, primary cell cultures usually have a finite life span and need to be frequently re-established. Fibroblasts are an easily accessible source of primary cells. Here, we discuss a simple and quick experimental procedure to establish primary fibroblast cultures from ears and tails of mice. The protocol can be used to establish primary fibroblast cultures from ears stored at RT for up to 10 days. When the protocol is carefully followed, contaminations are unlikely to occur despite the use of non-sterile tissue stored for extended time in some cases. Fibroblasts proliferate rapidly in culture and can be expanded to substantial numbers before undergoing replicative senescence.

Extraction of fibroblasts from tissue results in a significant amount of tissue debris (Figure 1). In contrast to tissue debris, fibroblasts adhere to tissue culture plastic surfaces between day 1 and 3 of culture. The medium of fibroblast cultures can be safely changed on day 3 of culture, which should significantly decrease the levels of debris present in the culture (Figure 2). Fibroblasts display an elongated morphology and a clearly visible cytoplasm (Figures 1 and 2</strong...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Generating Primary Fibroblast Cultures from Mouse Ear and Tail Tissues at JoVE.com

Generating Primary Fibroblast Cultures from Mouse Ear and Tail Tissues

We describe a simple and quick experimental procedure for generating primary fibroblasts from the ears and tails of mice. The procedure does not require special animal training and can be used for the generation of fibroblast cultures from ears stored at RT for up to 10 days.

Primary cells are derived directly from tissue and are thought to be more representative of the physiological state of cells in vivo than established cell ...

The overall goal of this protocol is to establish primary fibroblast cultures from the ears and tail of mice. This method can help answer key questions in the cell biology field, such as the difference between healthy and cancer cells. The main advantage of this study is that we can generate fibroblast from ears that were stored in medium at room temperature for up to 10 days before isolating the cells.Though this method can provide insight into mouse biology, it can also be applied to other mammalian animal organisms such as rats and rabbits. Before collecting the tissues, load 10 centimeter culture dishes with 10 milliliters of complete medium. Then, after the mouse has been euthanized, proceed with using sterilized instruments to collect the tissue samples.Collect ear tissues with about a one centimeter radius, and collect about five centimeters of tail tissue. Transfer the tissues to a conical tube loaded with 40 milliliters of 70%ethanol. Let them soak for five minutes, and then air-dry them in an open 10 centimeter culture dish for five minutes in a culture hood.After the tissues dry, transfer them onto the media-loaded plate. Now, snip the hair off all the tissues using scissors, and then cut the tissues into pieces smaller than three millimeters. Transfer the diced tissue to cryotube vials, and then fill the vials with collagenase D pronase solution, to the 1.8 milliliter mark.Now incubate the tissues at 37 degrees Celsius, with shaking at 200 rpm for 90 minutes. At the hood, load a dish with 10 milliliters of complete medium. Over the dish, place a 70 micron cell strainer, and after the incubation, load the tissue digestion into the strainer.Now, grind the tissues in the strainer using a plunger. Do this for at least five minutes. Occasionally shake the strainer into the medium to wash out dissociated cells.It is important that the digested ear and tail tissues are ground out well in order to cull out a good number of cells. Also be sure to shake the cell strainer after grinding the tissues. This will wash out additional cells from the strainer.Next, collect the cell suspension in a 15 milliliter conical tube. Then, rinse the strainer with 10 milliliters of medium, and add the rinse solution to the collection. Now, wash the cells.Firstly, spin the cells down in a refrigerated centrifuge. Secondly, remove the supernatant. And thirdly, suspend the cells in 10 milliliters of complete medium.Repeat the wash once more, and finish the procedure with the cells in complete medium, ready for culturing. To culture the cells, first, transfer the cell suspensions to 10 milliliter culture dishes. Then, add 10 microliters of amphrotericin B solution to each culture.Now, incubate the cells for three days. On the third day, replace the medium with fresh complete medium with amphrotericin B.Soon after, the cultures will reach 70%confluency. At this point, remove the medium and rinse the culture with five milliliters of 1X PBS.Then, replace the PBS with two milliliters of 1X trypsin EDTA solution, and incubate the cells for five minutes. After the brief incubation, gently tap the dishes and add six milliliters of fresh complete medium to each dish. Now, pipette the released cells from the dish to two 15 milliliter conical tubes.Then, spin the tubes down for five minutes at 450 Gs in a refrigerated centrifuge. Resuspend the pellets in five milliliters of complete medium and measure the cell density of the suspensions. Now, feed the cells to 10 centimeter dishes at 200, 000 per dish.Incubate these cells for three to four days until they reach 70%confluency, and then repeat the process of collecting, and replating the cells at a specific density. They can be grown this way for up to 25 days. Three days after the cell extraction, there was significant debris in the culture before exchanging the medium.The cell debris is highlighted with white arrows. The scale bar represents 100 microns. New medium significantly reduced the cell debris.Three day old cultures produced from tissue that had been stored at room temperature for 10 days demonstrated that the fibroblasts are fairly hardy. From such tissues, 70 to 80%fibroblast confluency was achieved after five to six days. The cells were labelled with a marker for fibroblasts, vimentin, seen in red.DAPI was used to label the nuclei, which is seen in blue. The scale bar is 10 microns. The uniform staining suggests that the fibroblast culture is pure.The described protocol routinely got this result. After watching this video, you should have gotten this ending of how to quickly and reliably establish primary fibroblast cultures. While attempting this procedure, extra attention should be given during the extraction of fibroblasts from the tissues, as insufficient grinding of the tissue will result in lower cell numbers.

generating-primary-fibroblast-cultures-from-mouse-ear-and-tail-tissues

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

33.0K ビュー.  Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. The overall goal of this protocol is to establish primary fibroblast cultures from the ears and tail of mice. This method can help answer key questions in the cell biology field, such as the difference between healthy and cancer cells. The main advantage of this study is that we can generate fibroblast from ears that were stored in medium at room temperature for up to 10 days before isolating the cells.Though this method can provide insight into mouse biology, it can also be applied to...

ビデオ: Generating Primary Fibroblast Cultures from Mouse Ear and Tail Tissues

Stable and Efficient Genetic Modification of Cells in the Adult Mouse V-SVZ for the Analysis of Neural Stem Cell Autonomous and Non-autonomous Effects

Relatively quiescent somatic stem cells support life-long cell renewal in most adult tissues. Neural stem cells in the adult mammalian brain are restricted to two specific neurogenic niches: the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus and the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ; also called subependymal zone or SEZ) in the walls of the lateral ventricles. The development of in vivo gene transfer strategies for adult stem cell populations (i.e. those of the mammalian brain) resulting in long-term expression of desired transgenes in the stem cells and their derived progeny is a crucial tool in current biomedical and biotechnological research. Here, a direct in vivo method is presented for the stable genetic modification of adult mouse V-SVZ cells that takes advantage of the cell cycle-independent infection by LVs and the highly specialized cytoarchitecture of the V-SVZ niche. Specifically, the current protocol involves the injection of empty LVs (control) or LVs encoding specific transgene expression cassettes into either the V-SVZ itself, for the in vivo targeting of all types of cells in the niche, or into the lateral ventricle lumen, for the targeting of ependymal cells only. Expression cassettes are then integrated into the genome of the transduced cells and fluorescent proteins, also encoded by the LVs, allow the detection of the transduced cells for the analysis of cell autonomous and non-autonomous, niche-dependent effects in the labeled cells and their progeny.

Here we describe a procedure based on the use of lentiviral particles for the long-term genetic modification of neural stem cells and/or their adjacent ependymal cells in the adult ventricular-subventricular neurogenic niche which allows the separate analysis of cell autonomous and non-autonomous, niche-dependent effects on neural stem cells.

Relatively quiescent somatic stem cells support life-long cell renewal in most adult tissues. Neural stem cells in the adult mammalian brain are ...

Murine Dermal Fibroblast Isolation by FACS

Fibroblasts are the principle cell type responsible for secreting extracellular matrix and are a critical component of many organs and tissues. Fibroblast physiology and pathology underlie a spectrum of clinical entities, including fibroses in multiple organs, hypertrophic scarring following burns, loss of cardiac function following ischemia, and the formation of cancer stroma. However, fibroblasts remain a poorly characterized type of cell, largely due to their inherent heterogeneity. Existing methods for the isolation of fibroblasts require time in cell culture that profoundly influences cell phenotype and behavior. Consequently, many studies investigating fibroblast biology rely upon in vitro manipulation and do not accurately capture fibroblast behavior in vivo. To overcome this problem, we developed a FACS-based protocol for the isolation of fibroblasts from the dorsal skin of adult mice that does not require cell culture, thereby preserving the physiologic transcriptional and proteomic profile of each cell. Our strategy allows for exclusion of non-mesenchymal lineages via a lineage negative gate (Lin-) rather than a positive selection strategy to avoid pre-selection or enrichment of a subpopulation of fibroblasts expressing specific surface markers and be as inclusive as possible across this heterogeneous cell type.

Fibroblast behavior underlies a spectrum of clinical entities, but they remain poorly characterized, largely due to their inherent heterogeneity. Traditional fibroblast research relies upon in vitro manipulation, masking in vivo fibroblast behavior. We describe a FACS-based protocol for the isolation of mouse skin fibroblasts that does not require cell culture.

Fibroblasts are the principle cell type responsible for secreting extracellular matrix and are a critical component of many organs and tissues. Fibroblast ...

Isolation of CD 90+ Fibroblast/Myofibroblasts from Human Frozen Gastrointestinal Specimens

Fibroblasts/myofibroblasts (MFs) have been gaining increasing attention for their role in pathogenesis and their contributions to both wound healing and promotion of the tumor microenvironment. While there are currently many techniques for the isolation of MFs from gastrointestinal (GI) tissues, this protocol introduces a novel element of isolation of these stromal cells from frozen tissue. Freezing GI tissue specimens not only allows the researcher to acquire samples from worldwide collaborators, biobanks, and commercial vendors, it also permits the delayed processing of fresh samples. The described protocol will consistently yield characteristic spindle-shaped cells with the MF phenotype that express the markers CD90, &#945;-SMA and vimentin. As these cells are derived from patient samples, the use of primary cells also confers the benefit of closely mimicking MFs from disease states-namely cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. This technique has been validated in gastric, small bowel, and colonic MF primary culture generation. Primary MF cultures can be used in a vast array of experiments over a number of passage and their purity assessed by both immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis.

Here, a protocol to isolate and establish primary fibroblast/myofibroblast (MF) cultures from frozen gastric, small intestinal, and colonic tissue-yielding cells with a MF phenotype-is presented. These cells express CD90, &#945;-SMA and vimentin. MFs can be used for a variety of functional assays including enzymatic activity and cytokine production.


Fibroblasts/myofibroblasts (MFs) have been gaining increasing attention for their role in pathogenesis and their contributions to both wound healing and ...

Using Primary Neurosphere Cultures to Study Primary Cilia

The primary cilium is fundamentally important for the proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells and for neuronal differentiation during embryonic, postnatal, and adult life. In addition, most differentiated neurons possess primary cilia that house signaling receptors, such as G-protein-coupled receptors, and signaling molecules, such as adenylyl cyclases. The primary cilium determines the activity of multiple developmental pathways, including the sonic hedgehog pathway during embryonic neuronal development, and also functions in promoting compartmentalized subcellular signaling during adult neuronal function. Unsurprisingly, defects in primary cilium biogenesis and function have been linked to developmental anomalies of the brain, central obesity, and learning and memory deficits. Thus, it is imperative to study primary cilium biogenesis and ciliary trafficking in the context of neural stem/progenitor cells and differentiated neurons. However, culturing methods for primary neurons require considerable expertise and are not amenable to freeze-thaw cycles. In this protocol, we discuss culturing methods for mixed populations of neural stem/progenitor cells using primary neurospheres. The neurosphere-based culturing methods provide the combined benefits of studying primary neural stem/progenitor cells: amenability to multiple passages and freeze-thaw cycles, differentiation potential into neurons/glia, and transfectability. Importantly, we determined that neurosphere-derived neural stem/progenitor cells and differentiated neurons are ciliated in culture and localize signaling molecules relevant to ciliary function in these compartments. Utilizing these cultures, we further describe methods to study ciliogenesis and ciliary trafficking in neural stem/progenitor cells and differentiated neurons. These neurosphere-based methods allow us to study cilia-regulated cellular pathways, including G-protein-coupled receptor and sonic hedgehog signaling, in the context of neural stem/progenitor cells and differentiated neurons.

The primary cilium is fundamentally important in neural progenitor cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation, and adult neuronal function. Here, we describe a method to study ciliogenesis and the trafficking of signaling proteins to cilia in neural stem/progenitor cells and differentiated neurons using primary neurosphere cultures.

The primary cilium is fundamentally important for the proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells and for neuronal differentiation during embryonic, ...

Generation and Culturing of Primary Human Keratinocytes from Adult Skin

The main function of keratinocytes is to provide the structural integrity of the epidermis, thereby maintaining a mechanical barrier to the outside world. In addition, keratinocytes play an essential role in the initiation, maintenance, and regulation of epidermal immune responses by being part of the innate immune system responding to antigenic stimuli in a fast, nonspecific manner. Here, we describe a protocol for isolation of primary human keratinocytes from adult skin, and demonstrate that these cells respond to calcium-induced terminal differentiation, as measured by an increased expression of the differentiation marker involucrin. In addition, we show that the isolated keratinocytes are responsive to IL-1&#946;-induced activation of intracellular signaling pathways as measured by the activation of the p38 MAPK pathway. Taken together, we describe a method for isolation and culturing of primary human keratinocytes from adult skin. Because the keratinocytes are the predominant cell type in the epidermis, this method is useful to study molecular mechanisms in cutaneous biology in vitro.

The human skin acts as a first line of defense against the external environment. We present a method for isolating primary human keratinocytes from adult skin. These isolated keratinocytes are useful in numerous experimental setups, and are a highly suitable model for studying molecular mechanisms in cutaneous biology in vitro.

The main function of keratinocytes is to provide the structural integrity of the epidermis, thereby maintaining a mechanical barrier to the outside world. ...

Direct Lineage Reprogramming of Adult Mouse Fibroblast to Erythroid Progenitors

Erythroid cell commitment and differentiation proceed through activation of a lineage-restricted transcriptional network orchestrated by a group of cell fate determining and maturing factors. We previously set out to define the minimal set of factors necessary for instructing red blood cell development using direct lineage reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced erythroid progenitors/precursors (iEPs). We showed that overexpression of Gata1, Tal1, Lmo2, and c-Myc (GTLM) can rapidly convert murine and human fibroblasts directly to iEPs that resemble bona fide erythroid cells in terms of morphology, phenotype, and gene expression. We intend that iEPs will provide an invaluable tool to study erythropoiesis and cell fate regulation. Here we describe the stepwise process of converting murine tail tip fibroblasts into iEPs via transcription factor-driven direct lineage reprogramming (DLR). In this example, we perform the reprogramming in fibroblasts from erythroid lineage-tracing mice that express the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) under the control of the erythropoietin receptor gene (EpoR) promoter, enabling visualization of erythroid cell fate induction upon reprogramming. Following this protocol, fibroblasts can be reprogrammed into iEPs within five to eight days. 
While improvements can still be made to the process, we show that GTLM-mediated reprogramming is a rapid and direct process, yielding cells with properties of bona fide erythroid progenitor and precursor cells.

Here we present our protocol for producing induced erythroid progenitors (iEPs) from mouse adult fibroblasts using transcription factor-driven direct lineage reprogramming (DLR).

Erythroid cell commitment and differentiation proceed through activation of a lineage-restricted transcriptional network orchestrated by a group of cell ...

Tissue Preparation and Immunostaining of Mouse Craniofacial Tissues and Undecalcified Bone

Tissue immunostaining provides highly specific and reliable detection of proteins of interest within a given tissue. Here we describe a complete and simple protocol to detect protein expression during craniofacial morphogenesis/pathogenesis using mouse craniofacial tissues as examples. The protocol consists of preparation and cryosectioning of tissues, indirect immunofluorescence, image acquisition, and quantification. In addition, a method for preparation and cryosectioning of undecalcified hard tissues for immunostaining is described, using craniofacial tissues and long bones as examples. Those methods are key to determine the protein expression and morphological/anatomical changes in various tissues during craniofacial morphogenesis/pathogenesis. They are also applicable to other tissues with appropriate modifications. Knowledge of the histology and high quality of sections are critical to draw scientific conclusions from experimental outcomes. Potential limitations of this methodology include but are not limited to specificity of antibodies and difficulties of quantification, which are also discussed here.

Here, we present a detailed protocol to detect and quantify protein levels during craniofacial morphogenesis/pathogenesis by immunostaining using mouse craniofacial tissues as examples. In addition, we describe a method for preparation and cryosectioning of undecalcified hard tissues from young mice for immunostaining.

Tissue immunostaining provides highly specific and reliable detection of proteins of interest within a given tissue. Here we describe a complete and ...

Isolation and Differentiation of Primary Myoblasts from Mouse Skeletal Muscle Explants

Primary myoblasts are undifferentiated proliferating precursors of skeletal muscle. They can be cultured and studied as muscle precursors or induced to differentiate into later stages of muscle development. The protocol provided here describes a robust method for the isolation and culture of a highly proliferative population of myoblast cells from young adult mouse skeletal muscle explants. These cells are useful for the study of the metabolic properties of skeletal muscle of different mouse models, as well as in other downstream applications such as transfection with exogenous DNA or transduction with viral expression vectors. The level of differentiation and metabolic profile of these cells depends on the length of exposure, and composition of the media used to induce myoblast differentiation. These methods provide a robust system for the study of mouse muscle cell metabolism ex vivo. Importantly, unlike in vivo models, the methods described here provide a cell population that can be expanded and studied with high levels of reproducibility.

Myoblasts are proliferating precursor cells that differentiate to form polynucleated myotubes and eventually skeletal muscle myofibers. Here, we present a protocol for efficient isolation and culture of primary myoblasts from young adult mouse skeletal muscles. The method enables molecular, genetic, and metabolic studies of muscle cells in culture.

Primary myoblasts are undifferentiated proliferating precursors of skeletal muscle. They can be cultured and studied as muscle precursors or induced to ...

Clonal Genetic Tracing using the Confetti Mouse to Study Mineralized Tissues

Labeling an individual cell in the body to monitor which cell types it can give rise to and track its migration through the organism or determine its longevity can be a powerful way to reveal mechanisms of tissue development and maintenance. One of the most important tools currently available to monitor cells in vivo is the Confetti mouse model. The Confetti model can be used to genetically label individual cells in living mice with various fluorescent proteins in a cell type-specific manner and monitor their fate, as well as the fate of their progeny over time, in a process called clonal genetic tracing or clonal lineage tracing. This model was generated almost a decade ago and has contributed to an improved understanding of many biological processes, particularly related to stem cell biology, development, and renewal of adult tissues. However, preserving the fluorescent signal until image collection and simultaneous capturing of various fluorescent signals is technically challenging, particularly for mineralized tissue. This publication describes a step-by-step protocol for using the Confetti model to analyze growth plate cartilage that can be applied to any mineralized or nonmineralized tissue.

This method describes the use of the R26R-Confetti (Confetti) mouse model to study mineralized tissues, covering all steps from the breeding strategy to the image acquirements. Included is a general protocol that can be applied to all soft tissues and a modified protocol that can be applied to mineralized tissues.

Labeling an individual cell in the body to monitor which cell types it can give rise to and track its migration through the organism or determine its ...

Microwaving and Fluorophore-Tyramide for Multiplex Immunostaining on Mouse Adrenals &#8722; Using Unconjugated Primary Antibodies from the Same Host Species

Immunostaining is widely used in biomedical research to show the cellular expression pattern of a given protein. Multiplex immunostaining allows labeling using multiple primary antibodies. To minimize antibody cross-reactivity, multiplex immunostaining using indirect staining requires unlabeled primary antibodies from different host species. However, the appropriate combination of different species antibodies is not always available. Here, we describe a method of using unlabeled primary antibodies from the same host species (e.g., in this case both antibodies are from rabbit) for multiplex immunofluorescence on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) mouse adrenal sections. This method uses the same procedure and reagents used in the antigen retrieval step to strip the activity of the previously stained primary antibody complex. Slides were stained with the first primary antibody using a general immunostaining protocol followed by a binding step with a biotinylated secondary antibody. Then, an avidin-biotin-peroxidase signal development method was used with fluorophore-tyramide as the substrate. The immunoactivity of the first primary antibody complex was stripped through immersion in a microwaved boiling sodium citrate solution for 8 min. The insoluble fluorophore-tyramide deposition remained on the sample, which allowed the slide to be stained with other primary antibodies. Although this method eliminates most false positive signals, some background from antibody cross-reactivity may remain. If the samples are enriched with endogenous biotin, a peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody may be used to replace the biotinylated secondary antibody to avoid the false positive from recovered endogenous biotin.

Microwaving and Fluorophore-Tyramide for Multiplex Immunostaining on Mouse Adrenals &amp;#8722; Using Unconjugated Primary Antibodies from the Same Host Species

Several different methods have been established for multiplex immunostaining using primary antibodies from the same host species. Here, we describe the use of microwave-mediated antibody stripping and of fluorophore-tyramide to block antibody cross-reactivity during multiplex immunostaining on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded mouse adrenal sections.

Immunostaining is widely used in biomedical research to show the cellular expression pattern of a given protein. Multiplex immunostaining allows labeling ...