Name: investigating aortic valve calcification via isolation and culture of t lymphocytes using feeder cells from irradiated buffy coat
Uploaded: 2021-02-04T13:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Investigating Aortic Valve Calcification via Isolation and Culture of T Lymphocytes using Feeder Cells from Irradiated Buffy Coat at JoVE.com

All the buffy coat bags used for this protocol were irradiated thanks to availability of Dr. Peter Rosenthal, Dr. Dirk B&#246;hmer and the whole team of the Radiology Department of Charit&#233; Benjamin Franklin. Scholarship Holder/Mary Roxana Christopher, this work is supported by a scholarship from the German Cardiac Society (DGK).

The study was conducted according to the Statute of the Charit&#233; for Ensuring Good Scientific Practice and the legal guidelines and provisions on privacy and ethics were respected. The Ethics Committee approved all human experiments and the privacy and anonymity of the patients were maintained in accordance with the rules reported on the Ethic Form.
NOTE: For the protocol described below fresh human stenotic valve samples were used.
1. Reagent preparation
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<ol>
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R., Franz, M., Lauten, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+History+of+Transcatheter+Aortic+Valve+Implantation+(TAVI)-A+Personal+View+Over+25+Years+of+development.">The History of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI)-A Personal View Over 25 Years of development.</a> Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine. 21 (3), 398-403 (2020).</li><li>Lauten, 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=TAVI+for+low-flow,+low-gradient+severe+aortic+stenosis+with+preserved+or+reduced+ejection+fraction:+a+subgroup+analysis+from+the+German+Aortic+Valve+Registry+(GARY).">TAVI for low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved or reduced ejection fraction: a subgroup analysis from the German Aortic Valve Registry (GARY).</a> Euro Intervention Journal. 10 (7), 850-859 (2014).</li><li>Mirna, 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=Multi-biomarker+analysis+in+patients+after+transcatheter+aortic+valve+implantation+(TAVI).">Multi-biomarker analysis in patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).</a> Biomarkers. 23 (8), 773-780 (2018).</li><li>Wernly, 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=Transcatheter+aortic+valve+replacement+for+pure+aortic+valve+regurgitation:+"on-label"+versus+"off-label"+use+of+TAVR+devices.">Transcatheter aortic valve replacement for pure aortic valve regurgitation: "on-label" versus "off-label" use of TAVR devices.</a> Clinical Research in Cardiology. 108 (8), 921-930 (2019).</li><li>Wernly, 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=Transcatheter+valve-in-valve+implantation+(VinV-TAVR)+for+failed+surgical+aortic+bioprosthetic+valves.">Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation (VinV-TAVR) for failed surgical aortic bioprosthetic valves.</a> Clinical Research in Cardiology. 108 (1), 83-92 (2019).</li><li>Mathieu, P., Bouchareb, R., Boulanger, M. 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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=The+Lymphocytic+Infiltration+in+Calcific+Aortic+Stenosis+Predominantly+Consists+of+Clonally+Expanded+T+Cells.">The Lymphocytic Infiltration in Calcific Aortic Stenosis Predominantly Consists of Clonally Expanded T Cells.</a> The Journal of Immunology. 178 (8), 5329-5339 (2007).</li><li>Raddatz, M. A., Madhur, M. S., Merryman, W. 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Here we present a method to characterize T lymphocyte subpopulations isolated from stenotic aortic valve samples, using flow cytometry. This method requires the use of irradiated buffy coat to isolate the PBMCs. The radiation frequency to which the buffy coat bags must be subjected is 9000 Rad/90 Gray (Gy) and it represents a crucial step to halt the proliferation of the feeder cells. The role of the cells isolated from the buffy coat bags is to act only as feeder cells and provide nutrients for the T cells isolated from...

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is one of the most common heart valve disorders, with a heavy impact on healthcare. The frequency of aortic valve replacement in the last years has increased dramatically and is expected to increase further, due to the growing elderly population1.
The underlying pathophysiology of CAVD is only partially known and the current therapeutic strategies are limited to conservative measures or aortic valve replacement, either through surgical or percutaneous procedures. To date, no effective medical treatment can hinder or reverse CAVD progression and high mortality is associated with early symptom-onset, unless aortic valve replacement (AVR) is performed2. In patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, the 3-year symptom-free survival was reported as low as 20%3. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) represents a new option, revolutionizing treatment for high-risk patients, especially among the elderly and has dramatically reduced the mortality, which was intrinsically high in this population4,5,6. Despite the promising results of TAVR, further research is necessary to understand CAVD pathophysiology to identify novel early therapeutic targets7,8,9.
Previously thought to be a passive, degenerative process, CAVD is now recognized as an active progressive disease, characterized by an osteoblastic phenotype switch of the aortic valve interstitial cells10. This disease involves progressive mineralization, fibrocalcific changes and reduced motility of the aortic valve leaflets (sclerosis), which ultimately obstruct blood flow leading to narrowing (stenosis) of the aortic valve opening11.
Inflammation is considered a key process in CAVD pathophysiology, similar to the process of vascular atherosclerosis. Endothelial injury enables the deposition and accumulation of lipid species, especially oxidized lipoproteins in the aortic valve12. These oxidized lipoproteins provoke an inflammatory response, as they are cytotoxic, with the inflammatory activity leading to mineralization. The role of innate and adaptive immunity in CAVD development and disease progression has been recently highlighted13. The activation and clonal expansion of specific subsets of memory T cells have been documented in patients with CAVD and mineralized aortic valve leaflets, so that inflammatory processes are assumed to be involved at least in the development of CAVD and presumably in disease progression as well14. In fact, although antigen-presenting cells and macrophages are present in both the healthy and diseased valve, the presence of T lymphocytes is indicative of an aged and diseased aortic valve. This lymphocytic infiltrate along with an increase in neovascularization and metaplasia are characteristic histological signs of CAVD15.
We hypothesize the existence of an interaction between the aortic valve interstitial cells and the activation of the immune system, which potentially triggers the initiation of a chronic inflammatory process in the aortic valve. The assaying of T cells from stenotic aortic valve tissue could be an efficient way to clarify their role in calcification development, as it can provide a close representation of the aortic valve cells in vivo. In the present work, using aortic valve tissue, we isolate T-lymphocytes, culture and clone them, and subsequently characterize them using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Fresh aortic valve samples were excised from CAVD patients who received surgical valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis. After the surgical excision, the fresh valve sample was dissected in small pieces and the T cells were cultured, cloned then analyzed using flow cytometry. The staining procedure is simple and the stained tubes can be fixed using 0.5% of paraformaldehyde and analyzed up to 15 days later. The data generated from the staining panel can be used to track changes in T lymphocyte distribution over time in relation to intervention and could easily be further developed to assess activation states of specific T cell subsets of interest.
The extraction of calcified tissue, the isolation of leukocytes from calcified tissue and particularly the use of flow cytometry on this type of tissue can be challenging, due to issues such as autofluorescence. Few publications exist with protocols for this specific purpose16,17,18. Herein we present a protocol designed specifically for the direct isolation and culture of T lymphocyte from human aortic valve samples. Clonal expansion of lymphocytes is a hallmark of adaptive immunity. Studying this process in vitro provides insightful information on the level of lymphocyte heterogeneity19. After a three-week incubation period, the T cell clones are ready to be explanted, as an adequate amount of T cells from each clone was obtained, so as to allow the phenotypic and functional study. Subsequently the phenotype of T clones is studied by cytofluorometry.
This immunological protocol is an adaptation of a method previously developed by Amedei et al. for T cell isolation and characterization from human tissue, especially designed for calcified human tissue, such as in CAVD20,21,22. The protocol here for the isolation of PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) using irradiated buffy coat describes an effective way to obtain feeder cells (FC), specifically adjusted for the cloning phase of T lymphocytes isolated from valve interstitial cells. The feeder layer consists of in growth arrested cells, which are still viable and bioactive. The role of feeder cells is important to support in vitro survival and growth of T lymphocytes isolated from valve interstitial cells23. In order to avoid feeder cell proliferation in culture, these cells must undergo a growth arrest. This can be achieved in two ways: through physical methods such as irradiation, or through treatment with cytotoxic chemicals, such as mitomycin C (MMC), an antitumoral antibiotic that can be applied directly to the culture surface24. Here we show feeder cell growth arrest achieved through cell irradiation.
This method presents an efficient, cost-effective way to isolate and characterize T cells from aortic valve tissue, contributing to broadening the spectrum of immunological methods for exploring CAVD pathophysiology.

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	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>50 mL plastic syringes</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td>9000701</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96- well U- bottom Multiwell plates</td>
			<td>Greiner Bio-One</td>
			<td>10638441</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bag Spike (needle free)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P6148</td>
			<td>Dilute to 4% with PBS</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD14 Brilliant violet 421</td>
			<td>&#160;Biolegend</td>
			<td>560349</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD25 PE</td>
			<td>&#160;Biolegend</td>
			<td>302621</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD3 PE/Cy7</td>
			<td>&#160;Biolegend</td>
			<td>300316</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD4 Alexa Fluor 488</td>
			<td>&#160;Biolegend</td>
			<td>317419</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD45 Brilliant violet 711</td>
			<td>&#160;Biolegend</td>
			<td>304137</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CD8 Brilliant violet 510</td>
			<td>&#160;Biolegend</td>
			<td>301047</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Eppendorf tube 1.5 mL</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>13094697</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Eppendorf tube 0.5 mL</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>AB0533</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Falcon 15 mL conical centrifuge tube</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>10136120</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Falcon 50 mL conical centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>10788561</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Falcon Round-Bottom Polystyrene Tubes</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>2300E</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fast read 102 plastic counting chamber</td>
			<td>KOVA INTERNATIONAL</td>
			<td>630-1893</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filters for culture medium 250 mL</td>
			<td>NalgeneThermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>168-0045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filters for culture medium 500 mL</td>
			<td>NalgeneThermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>166-0045</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HB 101 Lyophilized Supplement</td>
			<td>Irvine Scientific</td>
			<td>T151</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HB Basal Medium</td>
			<td>Irvine Scientific</td>
			<td>T000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heat-Inactivated FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum)</td>
			<td>Euroclone</td>
			<td>ECS0180L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HS (Human serum)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>H3667</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human IL-2 IS</td>
			<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
			<td>130-097-744</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamine</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11140050</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lymphoprep</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352057</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non-essential amino acids solution</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>11082132001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10538931</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS (Phosphate-buffered saline)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10010023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15070063</td>
			<td>10000 U/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PHA (phytohemagglutinin)</td>
			<td>Stem Cell Technologies</td>
			<td>7811</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plastic Petri dishes</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>R80115TS</td>
			<td>10 0mm x 15 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640 Media</td>
			<td>HyClone</td>
			<td>15-040-CV</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Sodium pyruvate</td>
			<td>Gibco by Life technologies</td>
			<td>11360070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe Filters 0,45&#181;l</td>
			<td>Rotilabo-Spritzenfilter</td>
			<td>P667.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T-25 Cell culture flasks</td>
			<td>InvitrogenThermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>AM9625</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T-75 Cell culture flask</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10232771</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#946;- Mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>A2916801</td>
			<td></td>
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investigating aortic valve calcification via isolation and culture of t lymphocytes using feeder cells from irradiated buffy coat

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), an active disease process ranging from mild thickening of the valve to severe calcification, is associated with high mortality, despite new therapeutic options such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). 
The complete pathways that start with valve calcification and lead to severe aortic stenosis remain only partly understood. By providing a close representation of the aortic valve cells in vivo, the assaying of T lymphocytes from stenotic valve tissue could be an efficient way to clarify their role in the development of calcification. After surgical excision, the fresh aortic valve sample is dissected in small pieces and the T lymphocytes are cultured, cloned then analyzed using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS).
The staining procedure is simple and the stained tubes can also be fixed using 0.5% of paraformaldehyde and analyzed up to 15 days later. The results generated from the staining panel can be used to track changes in T cell concentrations over time in relation to intervention and could easily be further developed to assess activation states of specific T cell subtypes of interest. In this study, we show the isolation of T cells, performed on fresh calcified aortic valve samples and the steps of analyzing T cell clones using flow cytometry to further understand the role of adaptive immunity in CAVD pathophysiology.

We used a simple and cost-effective method to characterize the leukocyte population of fresh aortic valve samples derived from human patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (refer to protocol). The method for isolating PBMCs is a vital step in obtaining feeder cells, which are used in every step of the experiment (cloning, refeeding and splitting phases) and enable the detection and characterization of infiltrating leukocytes in aortic valve samples. The key steps of this method are shown in Figur...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Investigating Aortic Valve Calcification via Isolation and Culture of T Lymphocytes using Feeder Cells from Irradiated Buffy Coat at JoVE.com

Investigating Aortic Valve Calcification via Isolation and Culture of T Lymphocytes using Feeder Cells from Irradiated Buffy Coat

In this study, we describe the process of T lymphocyte isolation from fresh samples of calcified aortic valves and the analytical steps of T cell-cloning for the characterization of the adaptive leukocyte subsets by using flow cytometry analysis.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), an active disease process ranging from mild thickening of the valve to severe calcification, is associated with high ...

This protocol is easy to perform. The cloning phase allows a larger number of T clones to be obtained from fresh samples. Moreover, the phenotype and function of T cells can easily be analyzed.Demonstrating the procedure will be Mary Christopher, a doctorate student from my laboratory. To induce T-cell cloning, use the bag spike with the needle-free valve to open an irradiated buffy coat bag in a laminar flow hood. Transfer up to 50 milliliters of blood from the bag into a T-150 flask, and add 70 milliliters of PBS to the flask.Carefully layer 30 milliliters of the diluted blood onto 20 milliliters of density gradient in each of four 50 milliliter conical tubes, and separate the cells by density gradient centrifugation. Carefully aspirate the supernatant, and transfer the PBMC from each tube into a single new 50 milliliter tube. Use PBS to bring the final volume to 50 milliliters and collect the PBMC by centrifugation.After a second wash under the same conditions, suspend the isolated feeder cells in 10 milliliters of cell culture medium for counting, and add 25 milliliters of a 70 milliliter cell culture medium supplemented with 50 units of IL-2 solution into each of two 50 milliliter tubes. Then add feeder cells to one tube at a 2 by 10 to the 6th cells per milliliter of cell culture medium supplemented with IL-2 concentration. To set up a T lymphocyte culture, pool the T cell clone containing supernatants from stenotic valve sample flask into a single 50 milliliter tube, and collect the cells by centrifugation.Wash the pellet three times in 50 milliliters of PBS per wash, before resuspending the cells in 1 milliliter of cell culture medium for counting. Dilute the cells to a 1 by 10 to the 3rd cells per milliliter concentration, and add 500 microliters of cells to the tube of cell culture medium supplemented with IL-2 without feeder cells. Add the feeder cell suspension to a plastic 100 by 15 milliliter Petri dish, and add 100 microliters of feeder cells to each well of the appropriate number of U-bottom 96-well plates for the experiment.Then add the T-cells to a Petri dish, and add 100 microliters of T-cells to each feeder cell supplemented well for a one week incubation in the cell culture incubator. The PBMC isolation is vital for obtaining feeder cells and enabling the detection and characterization of infiltrating leukocytes in aortic valve samples. After two weeks of incubation, a clone T-cell population can be obtained.Here, the gating scheme for analyzing T-cell subpopulations in patients with calcific aortic valve disease is shown. As observed in this patient, there were more CD4+T-cells than CD8+T-cells. Flow cytometric analysis of uncloned T-cells confirms that the same T-cell markers are present in both native valve and clone samples.Taken together, these data indicate that T-cells are present in calcified aortic valves with CD45+leukocytes, suggesting that calcific aortic valve disease is linked with activation of the immune system and inflammatory activity. This method is very versatile. It can be applied to different protocols for which researcher need to be able to isolate cells from a tissue, for the functional characterization.Keep in mind that it is important to work under sterile conditions to avoid contamination, and to critically observe the cells under the microscope.

investigating-aortic-valve-calcification-via-isolation-culture-t

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Human T Lymphocyte Isolation, Culture and Analysis of Migration In Vitro

The migration of T lymphocytes involves the adhesive interaction of cell surface integrins with ligands expressed on other cells or with extracellular matrix proteins. The precise spatiotemporal activation of integrins from a low affinity state to a high affinity state at the cell leading edge is important for T lymphocyte migration 1. Likewise, retraction of the cell trailing edge, or uropod, is a necessary step in maintaining persistent integrin-dependent T lymphocyte motility 2. Many therapeutic approaches to autoimmune or inflammatory diseases target integrins as a means to inhibit the excessive recruitment and migration of leukocytes 3. To study the molecular events that regulate human T lymphocyte migration, we have utilized an in vitro system to analyze cell migration on a two-dimensional substrate that mimics the environment that a T lymphocyte encounters during recruitment from the vasculature. T lymphocytes are first isolated from human donors and are then stimulated and cultured for seven to ten days. During the assay, T lymphocytes are allowed to adhere and migrate on a substrate coated with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a ligand for integrin LFA-1, and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1). Our data show that T lymphocytes exhibit a migratory velocity of ~15 &mu;m/min. T lymphocyte migration can be inhibited by integrin blockade 1 or by inhibitors of the cellular actomyosin machinery that regulates cell migration 2.

Human T Lymphocyte Isolation, Culture and Analysis of Migration In Vitro

T lymphocyte migration occurs during homing to lymphoid organs, exit from the vasculature, and entering into peripheral tissues. Here, we describe a protocol that can be used to analyze T lymphocyte migration in vitro.

The migration of T lymphocytes involves the adhesive interaction of cell surface integrins with ligands expressed on other cells or with extracellular ...

Expanding Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes from Umbilical Cord Blood that Target Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Adenovirus

Virus infections after stem cell transplantation are among the most common causes of death, especially after cord blood (CB) transplantation (CBT) where the CB does not contain appreciable numbers of virus-experienced T cells which can protect the recipient from infection.1-4 We and others have shown that virus-specific CTL generated from seropositive donors and infused to the recipient are safe and protective.5-8 However, until recently, virus-specific T cells could not be generated from cord blood, likely due to the absence of virus-specific memory T cells. 
In an effort to better mimic the in vivo priming conditions of na&iuml;ve T cells, we established a method that used CB-derived dendritic cells (DC) transduced with an adenoviral vector (Ad5f35pp65) containing the immunodominant CMV antigen pp65, hence driving T cell specificity towards CMV and adenovirus.9 At initiation, we use these matured DCs as well as CB-derived T cells in the presence of the cytokines IL-7, IL-12, and IL-15.10 At the second stimulation we used EBV-transformed B cells, or EBV-LCL, which express both latent and lytic EBV antigens. Ad5f35pp65-transduced EBV-LCL are used to stimulate the T cells in the presence of IL-15 at the second stimulation. Subsequent stimulations use Ad5f35pp65-transduced EBV-LCL and IL-2. 
From 50x106 CB mononuclear cells we are able to generate upwards of 150 x 106 virus-specific T cells that lyse antigen-pulsed targets and release cytokines in response to antigenic stimulation.11 These cells were manufactured in a GMP-compliant manner using only the 20% fraction of a fractionated cord blood unit and have been translated for clinical use.

Here we describe the first good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant method of producing virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from umbilical cord blood, a source of predominantly na&#238;ve T cells.

Virus infections after stem cell transplantation are among the most common causes of death, especially after cord blood (CB) transplantation (CBT) where ...

Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Na&iuml;ve and Memory T Cells

The development and maintenance of immunosuppressive CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the peripheral tolerance needed to remain in immunologic homeostasis with the vast amount of self and commensal antigens in and on the human body. Perturbations in the balance between Tregs and inflammatory conventional T cells can result in immunopathology or cancer. Although therapeutic injection of Tregs has been shown to be efficacious in murine models of colitis1 , type I diabetes2 , rheumatoid arthritis and graft versus host disease,4 several fundamental differences in human versus mouse Treg biology5 has thus far precluded clinical use. The lack of sufficient number, purity, stability and homing specificity of therapeutic Tregs necessitated a dynamic platform of human Treg development on which to optimize conditions for their ex vivo expansion6.
Here we describe a method for the differentiation of induced Tregs (iTregs) from a single human peripheral blood donor which can be broken down into four stages: isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, magnetic selection of CD4+ T cells, in vitro cell culture and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of T cell subsets. Since the Treg signature transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) is an activation-induced transcription factor in humans7 and no other unique marker exists, a combinatorial panel of markers must be used to identify T cells with suppressor activity. After six days in culture, cells in our system can be demarcated into na&iuml;ve T cells, memory T cells or iTregs based on their relative expression of CD25 and CD45RA. As memory and na&iuml;ve T cells have different reported polarization requirements and plasticities8 , pre-sorting of the initial T cell population into CD45RA+ and CD45RO+ subsets can be used to examine these discrepancies. Consistent with others, our CD25HiCD45RA- iTregs express high levels of FoxP39 , GITR and CTLA-411 and low levels of CD12712 . Following FACS of each population, resultant cells can be used in a suppressor assay which evaluates the relative ability to retard the proliferation of carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled autologous T cells.

Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells from Primary Human Na&amp;#239;ve and Memory T Cells

We describe a method for generating regulatory, memory and na&#239;ve T cells from a single human blood donor. Polarized Tregs can be then compared to other subsets in a variety of genetic and functional applications with genetic homogeneity, including a suppression assay also detailed here.

The development and maintenance of immunosuppressive CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) contribute to the peripheral tolerance needed to remain in ...

Directed Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells towards T Lymphocytes

Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is a promising treatment for a variety of malignancies 1. CTLs can recognize malignant cells by interacting tumor antigens with the T cell receptors (TCR), and release cytotoxins as well as cytokines to kill malignant cells. It is known that less-differentiated and central-memory-like (termed highly reactive) CTLs are the optimal population for ACT-based immunotherapy, because these CTLs have a high proliferative potential, are less prone to apoptosis than more differentiated cells and have a higher ability to respond to homeostatic cytokines 2-7. However, due to difficulties in obtaining a high number of such CTLs from patients, there is an urgent need to find a new approach to generate highly reactive Ag-specific CTLs for successful ACT-based therapies.
TCR transduction of the self-renewable stem cells for immune reconstitution has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of diseases 8-10. However, the approach to obtain embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from patients is not feasible. Although the use of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for therapeutic purposes has been widely applied in clinic 11-13, HSCs have reduced differentiation and proliferative capacities, and HSCs are difficult to expand in in vitro cell culture 14-16. Recent iPS cell technology and the development of an in vitro system for gene delivery are capable of generating iPS cells from patients without any surgical approach. In addition, like ESCs, iPS cells possess indefinite proliferative capacity in vitro, and have been shown to differentiate into hematopoietic cells. Thus, iPS cells have greater potential to be used in ACT-based immunotherapy compared to ESCs or HSCs.
Here, we present methods for the generation of T lymphocytes from iPS cells in vitro, and in vivo programming of antigen-specific CTLs from iPS cells for promoting cancer immune surveillance. Stimulation in vitro with a Notch ligand drives T cell differentiation from iPS cells, and TCR gene transduction results in iPS cells differentiating into antigen-specific T cells in vivo, which prevents tumor growth. Thus, we demonstrate antigen-specific T cell differentiation from iPS cells. Our studies provide a potentially more efficient approach for generating antigen-specific CTLs for ACT-based therapies and facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for diseases.

Generation of T lymphocytes from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells gives an alternative approach of using embryonic stem cells for T cell-based immunotherapy. The method shows that by utilizing either in vitro or in vivo induction system, iPS cells are able to differentiate into both conventional and antigen-specific T lymphocytes.

Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of antigen-specific CD8+  cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is a promising treatment for a variety of  malignancies 1. CTLs can  ...

Isolation of Lymphocytes from Mouse Genital Tract Mucosa

Mucosal surfaces, including in the gastrointestinal, urogenital, and respiratory tracts, provide portals of entry for pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria 1. Mucosae are also inductive sites in the host to generate immunity against pathogens, such as the Peyers patches in the intestinal tract and the nasal-associated lymphoreticular tissue in the respiratory tract. This unique feature brings mucosal immunity as a crucial player of the host defense system. Many studies have been focused on gastrointestinal and respiratory mucosal sites. However, there has been little investigation of reproductive mucosal sites. The genital tract mucosa is the primary infection site for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), including bacterial and viral infections. STDs are one of the most critical health challenges facing the world today. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 19 million new infectious every year in the United States. STDs cost the U.S. health care system $17 billion every year 2, and cost individuals even more in immediate and life-long health consequences. In order to confront this challenge, a greater understanding of reproductive mucosal immunity is needed and isolating lymphocytes is an essential component of these studies. Here, we present a method to reproducibly isolate lymphocytes from murine female genital tracts for immunological studies that can be modified for adaption to other species. The method described below is based on one mouse.&#x2003;

An efficient way to isolate lymphocytes from mouse genital tract is described. This method takes advantage of enzyme digestion and Percoll gradient separation to allow efficient isolation. This technique is also adaptable to for use in other species

Mucosal surfaces, including in the gastrointestinal, urogenital, and respiratory tracts, provide portals of entry for pathogens, such as viruses and ...

Isolating And Immunostaining Lymphocytes and Dendritic Cells from Murine Peyer's Patches

Peyer's patches (PPs) are integral components of the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) and play a central role in intestinal immunosurveillance and homeostasis. Particulate antigens and microbes in the intestinal lumen are continuously sampled by PP M cells in the follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) and transported to an underlying network of dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and lymphocytes. In this article, we describe protocols in which murine PPs are (i) dissociated into single cell suspensions and subjected to flow cytometry and (ii) prepared for cryosectioning and immunostaining. For flow cytometry, PPs are mechanically dissociated and then filtered through 70 &mu;m membranes to generate single cell suspensions free of epithelial cells and large debris. Starting with 20-25 PPs (from four mice), this quick and reproducible method yields a population of &gt;2.5 x 106 cells with &gt;90% cell viability. For cryosectioning, freshly isolated PPs are immersed in Optimal Cutting Temperature (OCT) medium, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, and then sectioned using a cryomicrotome. Tissue sections (5-12 &mu;m) are air-dried, fixed with acetone or methanol, and then subjected to immunolabeling.

Isolating And Immunostaining Lymphocytes and Dendritic Cells from Murine Peyer&#039;s Patches

There is an increasing interest in understanding the immunological functions of specific subpopulations of cells in Peyer's patches (PPs), the primary inductive sites of gut-associated lymphoid tissues. Here we outline parallel protocols for preparing PP single cell preparations for flow cytometric analysis and PP cryosections for immunostaining.

Peyer's  patches (PPs) are integral components of the gut-associated lymphoid tissues  (GALT) and play a central role in intestinal immunosurveillance and ...

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Na&iuml;ve CD4 T Lymphocytes

Th17 cells are a distinct subset of T cells that have been found to produce interleukin 17 (IL-17), and differ in function from the other T cell subsets including Th1, Th2, and regulatory T cells. Th17 cells have emerged as a central culprit in overzealous inflammatory immune responses associated with many autoimmune disorders. In this method we purify T lymphocytes from the spleen and lymph nodes of C57BL/6 mice, and stimulate purified CD4+ T cells under control and Th17-inducing environments. The Th17-inducing environment includes stimulation in the presence of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies, IL-6, and TGF-&#946;. After incubation for at least 72 hours and for up to five days at 37 &#176;C, cells are subsequently analyzed for the capability to produce IL-17 through flow cytometry, qPCR, and ELISAs. Th17 differentiated CD4+CD25- T cells can be utilized to further elucidate the role that Th17 cells play in the onset and progression of autoimmunity and host defense. Moreover, Th17 differentiation of CD4+CD25- lymphocytes from distinct murine knockout/disease models can contribute to our understanding of cell fate plasticity.

Isolation and Th17 Differentiation of Na&amp;#239;ve CD4 T Lymphocytes

With effector functions distinct from other T cell subsets, Th17 cells have been centrally implicated in inflammatory autoimmunity. This in vitro Th17 differentiation protocol provides a means to determine whether na&#239;ve CD4+ T lymphocytes can differentiate into Th17 cells, and to further examine their role in autoimmunity and host response.

Th17 cells are a distinct subset of T cells that have been found to produce interleukin 17 (IL-17), and differ in function from the other T cell subsets ...

Isolation of Double Negative &#945;&#946; T Cells from the Kidney

There is currently no standard protocol for the isolation of DN T cells from the non-lymphoid tissues despite their increasingly reported involvement in various immune responses. DN T cells are a unique immune cell type that has been implicated in regulating immune and autoimmune responses and tolerance to allotransplants1-6. DN T cells are, however, rare in peripheral blood and secondary lymphoid organs (spleen and lymph nodes), but are major residents of the normal kidney. Very little is known about their pathophysiologic function7 due to their paucity in the periphery. We recently described a comprehensive phenotypic and functional analysis of this population in the kidney8 in steady state and during ischemia reperfusion injury. Analysis of DN T cell function will be greatly enhanced by developing a protocol for their isolation from the kidney.
Here, we describe a novel protocol that allows isolation of highly pure ab CD4+ CD8+ T cells and DN T cells from the murine kidney. Briefly, we digest kidney tissue using collagenase and isolate kidney mononuclear cells (KMNC) by density gradient. This is followed by two steps to enrich hematopoietic T cells from 3% to 70% from KMNC. The first step consists of a positive selection of hematopoietic cells using a CD45+ isolation kit. In the second step, DN T cells are negatively isolated by removal of non-desired cells using CD4, CD8, and MHC class II monoclonal antibodies and CD1d &#945;-galcer tetramer. This strategy leads to a population of more than 90% pure DN T cells. Surface staining with the above mentioned antibodies followed by FACs analysis is used to confirm purity.

Isolation of Double Negative &amp;#945;&amp;#946; T Cells from the Kidney

DNabT cells are rare among peripheral T cells; however, they are abundant in certain non-lymphoid tissues. Difficulty of isolating DN T cells from non-lymphoid tissue hinders their functional analysis despite increasing recognized pathophysiologic significance. We describe a novel protocol for isolation of highly purified DN T cells from murine kidney.

There is currently no standard protocol for the isolation of DN T cells from the non-lymphoid tissues despite their increasingly reported involvement in ...

In Vitro Generation of Murine Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells from Common Lymphoid Progenitors using the AC-6 Feeder System

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are powerful type I interferon (IFN-I) producing cells that are activated in response to infection or during inflammatory responses. Unfortunately, study of pDC function is hindered by their low frequency in lymphoid organs, and existing methods for in vitro DC generation predominantly favor the production of cDCs over pDCs. Here we present a unique approach to efficiently generate pDCs from common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) in vitro. Specifically, the protocol described details how to purify CLPs from bone marrow and generate pDCs by coculturing with &#947;-irradiated AC-6 feeder cells in the presence of Flt3 ligand. A unique characteristic of this culture system is that the CLPs migrate underneath the AC-6 cells and become cobblestone area-forming cells, a critical step for expanding pDCs. Morphologically distinct DCs, namely pDCs and cDCs, were generated after approximately 2 weeks with a composition of 70-90% pDCs under optimal conditions. Typically, the number of pDCs generated by this method is roughly 100-fold of the number of CLPs seeded. Therefore, this is a novel system with which to robustly generate the large numbers of pDCs required to facilitate further studies into the development and function of these cells.

In Vitro Generation of Murine Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells from Common Lymphoid Progenitors using the AC-6 Feeder System

In this study we present an in vitro culture system that can efficiently generate pDCs by co-culturing common lymphoid progenitors with AC-6 feeder cells in the presence of Flt3 ligand.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are powerful type I interferon (IFN-I) producing cells that are activated in response to infection or during ...

Efficient Isolation Protocol for B and T Lymphocytes from Human Palatine Tonsils

Tonsils form a part of the immune system providing the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens. Usually the term &#8220;tonsils&#8221; refers to the palatine tonsils situated at the lateral walls of the oral part of the pharynx. Surgically removed palatine tonsils provide a convenient accessible source of B and T lymphocytes to study the interplay between foreign pathogens and the host immune system. This video protocol describes the dissection and processing of surgically removed human palatine tonsils, followed by the isolation of the individual B and T cell populations from the same tissue sample. We present a method, which efficiently separates tonsillar B and T lymphocytes using an antibody-dependent affinity protocol. Further, we use the method to demonstrate that human adenovirus infects specifically the tonsillar T cell fraction. The established protocol is generally applicable to efficiently and rapidly isolate tonsillar B and T cell populations to study the role of different types of pathogens in tonsillar immune responses.

Palatine tonsils are a rich source of B and T lymphocytes. Here we provide an easy, efficient and rapid protocol to isolate B and T lymphocytes from human palatine tonsils. The method described has been specifically adapted for studies of the viral etiology of tonsil inflammation known as tonsillitis.

Tonsils form a part of the immune system providing the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens. Usually the term &#8220;tonsils&#8221; refers to ...