Preparing the Reagents
<ol>
<li>Make a buffer containing PBS with BSA (0.5%), and 2 mM EDTA. Because air bubbles can block MACS separation columns, the buffer needs to be degassed and stored at 2-8&deg;C before use.</li>
<li>We use RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% mouse serum. The culture medium should not contain BSA or FCS, as these compounds will alter the specificity of cell stimulation.</li>
<li>The Mouse IL-17 Secretion Assay - Cell Enrichment and Detection Kit from Miltenyi-Biotec. The kit contains the following components: the IL-17 Catch Reagent, the IL-17 Detection Antibody (Biotin), the Anti-Biotin-PE, and the Anti-PE MicroBeads. </li>
</ol>
Stimulating the Splenocytes
<ol>
<li>This protocol is performed in the presence of a negative and positive control, such as unstimulated splenocytes and a counterstain for T cells. This protocol is carried out using sterile technique.</li>
<li>Prepare a single cell suspension of mouse splenocytes that were isolated using the gentleMACS&trade; Dissociator. The concentration of cells should be predetermined via cell counting. Pellet the cells at 200&times;g for 10 minutes at room temperature.</li>
<li>Following centrifugation, aspirate the supernatant off the pellet using a pipette. Do not decant the tube to avoid loss of the pellet.</li>
<li>Now, resuspend the cells in the culture medium and then add to a well. Add sufficient medium for a concentration of ten million cells per mL and five million cells per square cm.</li>
<li>To stimulate an immune response in our resuspended cells, we add ionomycin (1 &mu;g/mL) and PMA (10 ng/mL) to the sample and mix the solution by gently pipetting up and down. Then the wells are labeled accordingly.</li>
<li>Now, we will incubate our cells for 3 hours at 37 &deg;C with no mixing to start the stimulation period. Proceed to IL-17 analysis 3 hours from the onset of stimulation, so plan accordingly.</li>
<li>To stop secretion, cells are placed on ice and we collect the stimulated cells by gently pipetting up and down with cold buffer. Cells are then transferred from the well to a tube and are washed a second time.</li>
<li>To ensure that all cells are collected, it&rsquo;s a good idea to check your dish under a microscope. If cells still remain attached, you can collect the remaining cells by rinsing the dish with cold buffer. Any cell clumps in your cell suspension can be removed using the pre-separation filters. </li>
</ol>
Labeling the Cells with Catch Reagent
<ol>
<li>It is paramount to note, that this assay works optimally if less than 2% of IL-17- secreting cells are present.</li>
<li>If the concentration of IL-17 secreting cells is expected to be greater than 2% adjust volumes accordingly. <img src="/files/ftp_upload/old/1037_2008_12_8_6/figure8.png" alt="figure 8" width="500" height="162" />
</li>
<li>One potential pitfall of this procedure is cross contamination of the Catch Reagent, which can occur during labeling when the bi-specific antibody binds to a non-secreting T cell and traps IL-17 secreted from a neighboring lymphocyte, thereby generating false positives.</li>
<li>In order to circumvent this problem, it is critical to cool cells down prior to labeling and work with cold buffer to slow diffusion of IL-17 and avoid this cross contamination. In addition to keeping the cells cold, they must be kept at a defined concentration.</li>
<li>To begin the labeling procedure, we use ten million cells in a 15 ml closable tube. If higher cell numbers have to be used, simply scale up all volumes accordingly. Once the optimal cell concentration has been obtained, wash the cells by adding 10 ml of cold buffer.</li>
<li>Spin down the cells at 300&times;g for 10 minutes in a refrigerated centrifuge (2&ndash;8 &deg;C).</li>
<li>Following centrifugation, aspirate the supernatant completely using a pipette. Do not decant the supernatant as this will lead to cell loss and imprecise volumes. Repeat the washing step which consists of adding 10ml of cold buffer, centrifugation, and aspiration.</li>
<li>Now that we have a pellet of desired purity, resuspend the cells in 80 &mu;L of cold culture medium. To label them, we will now add 20 &mu;L of Mouse IL-17 Catch Reagent.</li>
<li>Incubate the cells for 5 minutes on ice.</li>
<li>After the 5 minute incubation period on ice, remove the tube and dilute the cells in 10 ml of 37&deg;C warm medium. Then secure the tube on the MACSmix Tube Rotator and incubate the tube at 37&deg;C for 45 min under continuous motion. Increasing the temperature to 37&deg;C will re-start cytokine secretion. </li>
</ol>
Labeling the Cells with IL-17 Detection Antibody (Biotin) and Anti-Biotin-PE
<ol>
<li>After the 45 minute secretion period at 37&deg;C, place the tube immediately on ice. This will stop cytokine secretion. From here on it is critical to keep cells on ice. Working with cold buffer will avoid cross contamination of the Catch Reagent.</li>
<li>Fill up the tube with cold buffer and centrifuge at 300xg at 2&ndash;8 &deg;C for 10 min. Aspirate the supernatant completely. Repeat the wash step one more time. </li>
<li>The cell pellet is resuspended in 80 &mu;L of cold buffer and the tube is placed on ice.</li>
<li>To avoid unspecific binding of the antibody, we recommend the addition of 10&micro;l FcR Blocking Reagent and incubate on ice for 5 min. Then we add 20 &mu;L of Mouse IL-17 Detection Antibody (Biotin) that is conjugated to biotin and incubate for 10 minutes on ice.</li>
<li>Once again, wash cells as we have done before by adding 10 mL of cold buffer and centrifuge at 300xg at 2&ndash;8 &deg;C for 10 min.</li>
<li>Now aspirate the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet in 80 &micro;l of cold buffer.</li>
<li>Add 20 &mu;L of our secondary antibody, Anti-Biotin-PE.</li>
<li>Mix the cells and secondary antibody solution, and again incubate the tube for 10 minutes on ice.</li>
<li>Once this second incubation is complete, wash the cells with 10 mL cold buffer and centrifuge.</li>
<li>The pellet can now be resuspended in 500 &mu;L of cold buffer.</li>
<li>If the cells have to be separated for further downstream analysis, they can be magnetically labeled with Anti-PE-MicroBeads and separated manually or automated using MACS Columns and MACS Separators.</li>
<li>We have now completed the labeling of the splenocytes and are ready for analysis. </li>
</ol>
FACS Analysis
<ol>
<li>For our analysis, we will compare the stimulated and unstimulated splenocytes by flow cytometry.</li>
<li>Before flow cytometric analysis, cells are stained with propidium iodide at 0.5 &mu;g/mL to gate out dead cells. The MACSQuant&trade; Analyzer was loaded with 200,000 cells for each sample and we now are going to look at the scatter plots of relative antibody reactivity in the samples. Two important considerations for analysis of rare cells - like IL-17 positive cells - by flow cytometry are: 
<ul>
<li>setting a gate on lymphocytes in the forward scatter versus side scatter plot</li>
<li>and gating out dead cells (stained with propidium iodide) and B-cells (which may cause unspecific background staining) to further enhance the sensitivity of detection</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>We used CD4-APC antibody to detect T cells and the CD45R/B220-PerCP antibody to detect the B cells. We see the forward and side scatter properties of the samples and apply a gate on the lymphocyte population.</li>
<li>A second gate was applied to see the stained dead cells and stained B cells (Y axis). These cells are excluded from the T cell analysis.</li>
<li>In this example, which is essentially our negative control, we can see that there are very few IL-17 secreting CD4 positive T cells in unstimulated samples &ndash; approximately 0.003% (Figure 4). Looking at the stimulated T cell population, we can see a substantial number of CD4 positive T cells that secrete IL-17 &ndash; about 0.367% (Figure 5A) before separation and 60.76% after magnetic separation with MACS Technology (Figure 5B).</li>
</ol>

All protocols and data sheets are available at www.miltenyibiotec.com.

Warnings 
Reagents contain sodium azide. Under acidic conditions sodium azide yields hydrazoic acid, which is extremely toxic. Azide compounds should be diluted with running water before discarding. These precautions are recommended to avoid deposits in plumbing where explosive conditions may develop.

TH17 cells play an integral role in adaptive immunity and the inflammatory response and are a key component in driving autoimmune inflammation.
This video documents how to use Miltenyi&rsquo;s Mouse IL-17 Secretion Assay &ndash; Cell Enrichment and Detection Kit (PE). When doing this procedure it&rsquo;s important to have an estimation of the frequency of IL-17-secreting cells in your starting cell preparation. The appropriate cell concentration during the labeling and cytokine secretion period prevents cross-contamination by other cells in your suspension and assures reliable results.

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		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Mouse IL-17 Secretion Assay Cell Enrichment and Detection Kit (PE) </td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-094-213</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_98_1005_Mouse_IL_17_Secretion_Assay_Cell_Enrichment_and_Detection_Kit.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_98_1005_Mouse_IL_17_Secretion_Assay_Cell_Enrichment_and_Detection_Kit.aspx</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RPMI 1640</td>
<td>Medium</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-091-440</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_243_293_RPMI_1640.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_243_293_RPMI_1640.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CD4-APC</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-091-611</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_599_327_CD4.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_599_327_CD4.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CD8a-FITC</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-091-605</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_599_328_CD8a.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_599_328_CD8a.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Propidium Iodide Solution</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-093-233</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_337_744_Propidium_Iodide_Solution.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_337_744_Propidium_Iodide_Solution.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FcR Blocking reagent, mouse </td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-092-575</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_601_435_FcR_Blocking_Reagent_mouse_.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_601_435_FcR_Blocking_Reagent_mouse_.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dead Cell Removal Kit </td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-090-101</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>MACSmix Tube Rotator</td>
<td>Instrument</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-090-753</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_34_251_MACSmix_Tube_Rotator.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_34_251_MACSmix_Tube_Rotator.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>gentleMACS&#x2122; Dissociator</td>
<td>Instrument</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>130-093-235</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_709_763_gentleMACS_Dissociator.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_709_763_gentleMACS_Dissociator.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>autoMACS Pro Starting Kit</td>
<td>Instrument</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec </td>
<td>130-092-545</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_651_679_autoMACS_Pro_Starting_Kit.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/PG_651_679_autoMACS_Pro_Starting_Kit.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MACS Columns</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td><a href="http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/NN_115_Columns_at_a_glance.aspx">http://www.miltenyibiotec.com/en/NN_115_Columns_at_a_glance.aspx</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MACS Separator</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Miltenyi Biotec</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

detection and isolation of viable mouse il-17-secreting t cells

The MACS Cytokine Secretion Assay technology allows detection of secreted cytokines on the single cell level and sensitive isolation of viable cytokine-secreting cells. In order to label IL-17-secreting cells, a single cell suspension of mouse splenocytes is prepared and stimulated at 37&deg;C with PMA/ionomycin to induce cytokine secretion. To stop secretion cells are then placed on ice and are exposed to the IL-17 Catch Reagent   a bi-specific antibody that binds to CD45 on the cell surface of leukocytes and to IL-17 as it is secreted and caught near the cell surface. Secretion is then re-started by increasing the temperature to 37&deg;C and IL-17 is trapped by the Catch Reagent. Secretion is then stopped again, by placing cells on ice. To detect the trapped IL-17, cells are incubated with a second IL-17-specific antibody conjugated to biotin and an Anti-Biotin-PE antibody. Cells can now be directly analyzed by flow cytometry or prepared for isolation and enrichment by subsequent labeling with Anti-PE conjugated MicroBeads.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Detection and Isolation of Viable Mouse IL-17-Secreting T Cells at JoVE.com

Detection and Isolation of Viable Mouse IL-17-Secreting T Cells

This procedure describes the detection and isolation of mouse TH17 leukocytes that actively secrete IL-17 upon stimulation.

The MACS Cytokine Secretion Assay technology allows detection of secreted cytokines on the single cell level and sensitive isolation of viable ...

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detection-and-isolation-of-viable-mouse-il-17-secreting-t-cells

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JoVE Journal

Biology

11.1K Views.  Miltenyi Biotec,GmbH.  ChineseVersion JapaneseVersion 

Video: Detection and Isolation of Viable Mouse IL-17-Secreting T Cells

Isolation of CD4+ T cells from Mouse Lymph Nodes Using Miltenyi MACS Purification

Isolation of cells from the primary source is a necessary step in many more complex protocols. Miltenyi offers kits to isolate cells from several organisms including humans, non-human primates, rat and, as we describe here, mice. Magnetic bead-based cell separation allows for either positive selection (or cell depletion) as well as negative selection. Here, we demonstrate negative selection of untouched or na ve CD4+ helper T cells. Using this standard protocol we typically purify cells that are &#8805; 96% pure CD4+/CD3+. This protocol is used in conjunction with the protocol Dissection and 2-Photon Imaging of Peripheral Lymph Nodes in Mice published in issue 7 of JoVE, for purification of T cells and other cell types to adoptively transfer for imaging purposes. Although we did not demonstrate FACS analysis in this protocol video, it is highly recommended to check the overall purity of isolated cells using the appropriate antibodies via FACS. In addition, we demonstrate the non-sterile method of T cell isolation. If sterile cells are needed for your particular end-user application, be sure to do all of the demonstrated procedures in the tissue culture hood under standard sterile conditions. Thank you for watching and good luck with your own experiments!

Isolation of lymphocytes using the Miltenyi MACs kit is a reliable way to purify cells from whole lymphoid tissue homogenates. Cells purified using the Miltenyi system are typically &#8805; 96% pure. Here, we demonstrate the steps taken to isolate CD4+ T cells, one of the many kits offered by Miltenyi.

Isolation of cells from the primary source is a necessary step in many more complex protocols. Miltenyi offers kits to isolate cells from several ...

Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells

The ability of embryonic germinal cells (EG) to differentiate into primordial germinal cells (PGCs) and later into gametes during early developmental stages is a perfect model to address our hypothesis about cancer and infertility. This protocol shows how to isolate primordial germinal cells from developing gonads in 10.5-11.5 days post coitum (dpc) mouse embryos.  Developing gonadal ridges from mouse embryos (C57BL6J) were dissociated by mechanical disruption with collagenase, then plated in a mouse embryo fibroblast feeder layer (MEF-CF1) that was previously mitotically inactivated with mitomycin C in the presence of knockout media and supplemented with Leukemia Inhibitor Factor (LIF), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), and Stem Cell Factor (SCF).  Using these optimized methods for PCG identification, isolation, and establishment of culture conditions permits long term cultures of EG cells for more than 40 days.  The embryonic germinal cell lines showed embryonic phenotype and expression of common used markers of the pluripotent state.  Isolation and derivation of germinal cells in culture provide a tool to understand their development in vitro and offer the opportunity to monitor cumulative damage at genetic and epigenetic levels after exposure to oxidative stress.

The ability of embryonic germinal cells to differentiate into primordial germinal cells during early development stages is a perfect model to address our hypothesis about cancer and infertility. This protocol shows how to isolate primordial germinal cells from developing gonads in 10.5-11.5 days post coitum mouse embryos.

The ability of embryonic germinal cells (EG) to differentiate into primordial germinal cells (PGCs) and later into gametes during early developmental ...

Isolation of Valvular Endothelial Cells

Heart valves are solely responsible for maintaining unidirectional blood flow through the cardiovascular system. These thin, fibrous tissues are subjected to significant mechanical stresses as they open and close several billion times over a lifespan. The incredible endurance of these tissues is due to the resident valvular endothelial (VEC) and interstitial cells (VIC) that constantly repair and remodel in response to local mechanical and biological signals. Only recently have we begun to understand the unique behaviors of these cells, for which in vitro experimentation has played a key role. Particularly challenging is the isolation and culture of VEC. Special care must be used from the moment the tissue is removed from the host through final plating. Here we present protocols for direct isolation, side specific isolation, culture, and verification of pure populations of VEC. We use enzymatic digestion followed by a gentle swab scraping technique to dislodge only surface cells. These cells are then collected into a tube and centrifuged into a pellet. The pellet is then resuspended and plated into culture flasks pre-coated with collagen I matrix. VEC phenotype is confirmed by contact inhibited growth and the expression of endothelial specific markers such as PECAM1 (CD31), Von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and negative expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (&alpha;-SMA). The functional characteristics of VEC are associated with high levels of acetylated LDL. Unlike vascular endothelial cells, VEC have the unique capacity to transform into mesenchyme, which normally occurs during embryonic valve formation1. This can also occur during significantly prolonged post confluent in vitro culture, so care should be made to passage at or near confluence. After VEC isolation, pure populations of VIC can then be easily acquired.

We provide a method for isolating and culturing pure populations of heart valve endothelial cells (VEC). VEC can be isolated from either side of the cusp or leaflet and immediately following, underlying interstitial cell (VIC) isolation is straightforward.

Heart valves are solely responsible for maintaining unidirectional blood flow through the cardiovascular system.  These thin, fibrous tissues are ...

Isolation of Mouse Salivary Gland Stem Cells

Mature salivary glands of both human and mouse origin comprise a minimum of five cell types, each of which facilitates the production and excretion of saliva into the oral cavity. Serous and mucous acinar cells are the protein and mucous producing factories of the gland respectively, and represent the origin of saliva production. Once synthesised, the various enzymatic and other proteinaceous components of saliva are secreted through a series of ductal cells bearing epithelial-type morphology, until the eventual expulsion of the saliva through one major duct into the cavity of the mouth. The composition of saliva is also modified by the ductal cells during this process.
In the manifestation of diseases such as Sj&ouml;gren's syndrome, and in some clinical situations such as radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancers, saliva production by the glands is dramatically reduced 1,2. The resulting xerostomia, a subjective feeling of dry mouth, affects not only the ability of the patient to swallow and speak, but also encourages the development of dental caries and can be socially debilitating for the sufferer.
The restoration of saliva production in the above-mentioned clinical conditions therefore represents an unmet clinical need, and as such several studies have demonstrated the regenerative capacity of the salivary glands 3-5. Further to the isolation of stem cell-like populations of cells from various tissues within the mouse and human bodies 6-8, we have shown using the described method that stem cells isolated from mouse salivary glands can be used to rescue saliva production in irradiated salivary glands 9,10. This discovery paves the way for the development of stem cell-based therapies for the treatment of xerostomic conditions in humans, and also for the exploration of the salivary gland as a microenvironment containing cells with multipotent self-renewing capabilities.

An optimized protocol for the isolation of stem cells from the mouse salivary gland is described. The method employs enzymatic and mechanical digestion, and permits isolation of salispheres containing cells with characteristics of stem cells.

Mature salivary glands of both human and mouse origin comprise a minimum of five cell types, each of which facilitates the production and excretion of ...

Isolation of Basal Cells and Submucosal Gland Duct Cells from Mouse Trachea

The large airways are directly in contact with the environment and therefore susceptible to injury from toxins and infectious agents that we breath in 1. The large airways therefore require an efficient repair mechanism to protect our bodies. This repair process occurs from stem cells in the airways and isolating these stem cells from the airways is important for understanding the mechanisms of repair and regeneration. It is also important for understanding abnormal repair that can lead to airway diseases 2. The goal of this method is to isolate a novel stem cell population from the mouse tracheal submucosal gland ducts and to place these cells in in vitro and in vivo model systems to identify the mechanisms of repair and regeneration of the submucosal glands 3. This production shows methods that can be used to isolate and assay the duct and basal stem cells from the large airways 3.This will allow us to study diseases of the airway, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Currently, there are no methods for isolation of submucosal gland duct cells and there are no in vivo models to study the regeneration of submucosal glands.

Here we demonstrate our protocol for isolation of basal and submucosal gland duct cells from mouse tracheas. We also demonstrate the method of injecting stem cells into the dorsal mouse fat pad to create an in vivo model of submucosal gland regeneration.

The large airways are directly in contact with the environment and therefore susceptible to injury from toxins and infectious agents that we breath in 1. ...

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Primary Pancreatic Acinar Cells

This protocol permits rapid isolation (in less than 1 hr) of murine pancreatic acini, making it possible to maintain them in culture for more than one week. More than 20 x 106 acinar cells can be obtained from a single murine pancreas. This protocol offers the possibility to independently process as many as 10 pancreases in parallel. Because it preserves acinar architecture, this model is well suited for studying the physiology of the exocrine pancreas in vitro in contrast to cell lines established from pancreatic tumors, which display many genetic alterations resulting in partial or total loss of their acinar differentiation.

In this publication, we describe a rapid and convenient procedure for isolating and culturing primary pancreatic acinar cells from the murine pancreas. This method constitutes a valuable approach to study the physiology of fresh primary normal/untransformed exocrine pancreatic cells.

This protocol permits rapid isolation (in less than 1 hr) of murine pancreatic acini, making it possible to maintain them in culture for more than one ...

Isolation of Viable Multicellular Glands from Tissue of the Carnivorous Plant, Nepenthes

Many plants possess specialized structures that are involved in the production and secretion of specific low molecular weight compounds and proteins. These structures are almost always localized on plant surfaces. Among them are nectaries or glandular trichomes. The secreted compounds are often employed in interactions with the biotic environment, for example as attractants for pollinators or deterrents against herbivores.
Glands that are unique in several aspects can be found in carnivorous plants. In so-called pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes, bifunctional glands inside the pitfall-trap on the one hand secrete the digestive fluid, including all enzymes necessary for prey digestion, and on the other hand take-up the released nutrients. Thus, these glands represent an ideal, specialized tissue predestinated to study the underlying molecular, biochemical, and physiological mechanisms of protein secretion and nutrient uptake in plants. Moreover, generally the biosynthesis of secondary compounds produced by many plants equipped with glandular structures could be investigated directly in glands.
In order to work on such specialized structures, they need to be isolated efficiently, fast, metabolically active, and without contamination with other tissues. Therefore, a mechanical micropreparation technique was developed and applied for studies on Nepenthes digestion fluid. Here, a protocol is presented that was used to successfully prepare single bifunctional glands from Nepenthes traps, based on a mechanized microsampling platform. The glands could be isolated and directly used further for gene expression analysis by PCR techniques after preparation of RNA.

Isolation of Viable Multicellular Glands from Tissue of the Carnivorous Plant, Nepenthes

Plants glands are specialized structures responsible for the biosynthesis and secretion of many compounds involved in interactions with the biotic environment. To enable studies on their molecular and biochemical features, a mechanical micropreparation technique was established in order to isolate single metabolically active glands, here from the carnivorous plant Nepenthes.

Many plants possess specialized structures that are involved in the production and secretion of specific low molecular weight compounds and proteins. ...

Isolation and Primary Culture of Mouse Aortic Endothelial Cells

The vascular endothelium is essential to normal vascular homeostasis. Its dysfunction participates in various cardiovascular disorders. The mouse is an important model for cardiovascular disease research. This study demonstrates a simple method to isolate and culture endothelial cells from the mouse aorta without any special equipment. To isolate endothelial cells, the thoracic aorta is quickly removed from the mouse body, and the attached adipose tissue and connective tissue are removed from the aorta. The aorta is cut into 1 mm rings. Each aortic ring is opened and seeded onto a growth factor reduced matrix with the endothelium facing down. The segments are cultured in endothelial cell growth medium for about 4 days. The endothelial sprouting starts as early as day 2. The segments are then removed and the cells are cultured continually until they reach confluence. The endothelial cells are harvested using neutral proteinase and cultured in endothelial cell growth medium for another two passages before being used for experiments. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that after the second passage the majority of cells were double positive for Dil-ac-LDL uptake, Lectin binding, and CD31 staining, the typical characteristics of endothelial cells. It is suggested that cells at the second to third passages are suitable for in vitro and in vivo experiments to study the endothelial biology. Our protocol provides an effective means of identifying specific cellular and molecular mechanisms in endothelial cell physiopathology.

The vascular endothelial cells play a significant role in many important cardiovascular disorders. This article describes a simple method to isolate and expand endothelial cells from the mouse aorta without using any special equipment. Our protocol provides an effective means of identifying mechanisms in endothelial cell physiopathology.

The vascular endothelium is essential to normal vascular homeostasis. Its dysfunction participates in various cardiovascular disorders. The mouse is an ...

Isolation of Mouse Coronary Endothelial Cells

Endothelial cells line the inner wall of blood vessels and play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone, vascular permeability, and new vascular formation. Endothelial cell dysfunction is implicated in the development and progression of many cardiovascular diseases including ischemic heart disease. To examine the function and characterization of coronary endothelial cells, cell isolation is the first step and it requires high purity and quantity to conduct subsequent experiments. This protocol describes an efficient method to isolate adult mouse coronary endothelial cells. The mouse heart is dissected and minced into small pieces. After the digestion of the heart using dispase and collagenase II, cells are washed&#160;and incubated with magnetic beads which are conjugated with anti-CD31 antibody. The beads with endothelial cells are washed several times and are ready to use in various applications, including imaging and molecular biological experiments. Efficient isolation yields approximately 104 cells per one heart with over 90% purity.

This protocol is prepared to share our method of isolating mouse coronary endothelial cells for the purpose of imaging or to conduct molecular biological experiments.

Endothelial cells line the inner wall of blood vessels and play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone, vascular permeability, and new ...

Detection of Modified Forms of Cytosine Using Sensitive Immunohistochemistry

Methylation of cytosine bases (5-methylcytosine, 5mC) occurring in vertebrate genomes is usually associated with transcriptional silencing. 5-hydroxylmethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC) are the recently discovered modified cytosine bases produced by enzymatic oxidation of 5mC, whose biological functions remain relatively obscure. A number of approaches ranging from biochemical to antibody based techniques have been employed to study the genomic distribution and global content of these modifications in various biological systems. Although some of these approaches can be useful for quantitative assessment of these modified forms of 5mC, most of these methods do not provide any spatial information regarding the distribution of these DNA modifications in different cell types, required for correct understanding of their functional roles. Here we present a highly sensitive method for immunochemical detection of the modified forms of cytosine. This method permits co-detection of these epigenetic marks with protein lineage markers and can be employed to study their nuclear localization, thus, contributing to deciphering their potential biological roles in different experimental contexts.

Herein we describe a sensitive immunochemical method for mapping the spatial distribution of 5mC oxidation derivatives based on the use of peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibodies and tyramide signal amplification.