This work was funded by a grant from the US-Israel BSF to B.S. and E.D.S. B.S. is an incumbent of the Hilda and Cecil Lewis professorial chair in Molecular Genetics.

NOTE: Procedures involving animal subjects have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
1. Sample Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Isolation of pancreatic acini
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare 300 ml of fresh Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate HEPES (KRBH) medium before starting. Mix 140 mM NaCl, 4.7 mM KCl, 1.16 mM MgCl2, 1 mM CaCl2, 11 mM Glucose, 10 mM HEPES. Add bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 0.1 mg/ml soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) (resuspension medium). Prepare 5 - 10 ml of resuspension medium supplemented with Collagenase (~0.75 mg/ml) (digestion medium).</li>
		<li>Oxygenate the KRB medium for ~30 min. Add BSA after oxygenation to prevent bubbling. Bring resuspension and digestion mediums to 37 &#176;C. NOTE: Oxygenating the medium reduces cell mortality and improves responsiveness to secretagogues. The effect of oxygenation is apparent at least for 6 hr.</li>
		<li>Sacrifice the mouse by cervical dislocation or CO2 asphyxiation, according to institutional animal care guidelines. Place the sacrificed animal on its back, attach it to a dissection pad and clean the abdominal surface with ethanol. 
		NOTE: In order to avoid contamination, autoclave the dissection tools and the water used for KRBH medium before use. Filter KRBH medium through a 0.2 &#181;m filter. Prior to excision of the pancreas rinse the dissection tools with 70% ethanol and carry out dissection on a clean bench. Carry out viral infections in a level 3 bio-safety cabinet. Add antibiotics to the O/N culturing medium (See section 4).</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Excision of the murine pancreas
	<ol>
		<li>Incision widely the abdominal skin and subcutaneous layer. Identify the liver, stomach, intestine, pancreas and spleen (Figure&#160;1). &#160; NOTE: In the following steps, handle the pancreatic tissue gently and avoid applying excessive mechanical force to prevent auto-digestion of the tissue and cell death.</li>
		<li>By using two blunt forceps, pull out the small intestine. Start at the small intestine proximal end, near the exit from the stomach. Separate the pancreas from the intestine and retain it within the body cavity. Once reaching the large intestine, notice a pink/white connective tissue. Do not confuse it with the pancreas.</li>
		<li>Clear as much pancreatic tissue as possible without collecting fat or connective tissue. Remove the pancreas by detaching it from the spleen and stomach and cutting the abdominal blood vessels beneath it (Figure 1A-C). 
		NOTE: Since the yield of pancreatic acini from a single animal is high, one can refrain from collecting all the pancreatic tissue in order to prevent collecting other tissues.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Collagenase digestion
	<ol>
		<li>Rinse the pancreas a few times in resuspension medium heated to 37 &#176;C and remove remaining parts of non-pancreatic tissues. Immerse the pancreas in ~5 ml of pre-heated digestion medium in a 20 ml scintillation vial. Mince the pancreas to pieces of 1-3mm. Place it in a heated water bath (optimally under agitation of ~100 rpm). To accelerate digestion, pipette the digested tissue up and down once every few minutes. 
		NOTE: The duration of collagenase digestion is dependent mainly on the collagenase concentration and on the amount of mechanical force applied on the tissue. Use of 0.75 mg/ml collagenase for approximately 15 min&#160;and pipetting the tissue with a 5 ml&#160;polystyrene pipette with a 2 mm orifice every 3 - 5 min, resulting in&#160;acini of 10 - 30 cells. Following digestion, the suspension appears turbid containing visible pieces of tissue. Since collagenases efficiencies varies between different commercial types and lots, determine the timing of digestion empirically.</li>
		<li>Washing and filtering
		<ol>
			<li>Transfer the digested tissue into a 50 ml tube and terminate digestion by adding 45 ml of resuspension medium. Filter the suspension through a coarse (~1 mm) metal mesh into a fresh tube. Centrifuge the flow-through at 100 &#215; g for 3 min.</li>
			<li>Discard the supernatant and resuspended the digested pancreas in 50 ml of resuspension medium. Filter the suspension through a 70 or 100 &#181;m nylon mesh. Centrifuge as before.</li>
			<li>In order to remove floating, damaged acini, discard the supernatant and resuspend the pancreatic tissue in 3 - 5 ml of resuspension medium. Apply 1 ml portions of the pancreatic acini into 15 ml conical tubes filled with 7 ml of resuspension medium. Allow the acini to settle for 2 - 3 min. Collect the acini that have settled at the bottom of the tube with a 1&#160;ml pipette, and repeat this step 2 - 3 times.</li>
			<li>View the pancreatic acini under a light or dissecting microscope to test their condition. In Figure 2, observe the purity of isolation and damages inflicted upon the cells during isolation. Use these acini immediately or culture for up to 20 hr.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Amylase Secretion Assay
NOTE: The amylase secretion assay serves as a global measure for the secretory capacity of pancreatic acini. This is achieved by collecting the medium in which the pancreatic acini were incubated, and determining the amylase activity of the medium, usually by using a commercial kit.
<ol>
	<li>Determine the number of experimental conditions to be examined (e.g. non-stimulated vs. stimulated). Use at least three replicates for each condition. In addition, add a set of replicates to determine the total cellular amylase content (&#8216;total&#8217; sample) and a set for the amylase activity of the medium (&#8216;zero&#8217; sample). Label a multi-well plate in which the assay will be conducted, and two sets of microtubes for each of the replicates to be used. 
	NOTE: 12- or 24-well plates can be used to monitor 1 and 0.5 ml of acinar suspensions, respectively.</li>
	<li>Wash the acini twice in 30 ml of KRBH resuspension medium and incubate them in resuspension medium for 30 min&#160;at 37 &#176;C. To the multi-well plate add a 10&#181;l drop of secretagogue to reach the appropriate final concentration.</li>
	<li>Pancreatic acini respond to a gradient of secretagogue in a bi-phasic manner. The concentrations with optimal secretion values are 50 - 100 pM of Cholecystokinin (CCK) and 1&#181;M of Carbachol (Figure&#160;3A)5.</li>
	<li>Wash and resuspend the acini in resuspension medium. Ensure that the acini are distributed homogenously in the suspension and aliquot equal amounts of suspension into the multi-well plate and into the &#8216;total&#8217;-labeled microtubes. Incubate the plate for 30 min&#160;at 37 &#176;C. (Preferably in a water bath under mild agitation (~50 rpm)). 
	NOTE: The exact number of acini may vary between experiments but should be similar in replicates within each experiment. Thus, precise aliquoting of the acini suspension is critical for comparing between different replicates and conditions.</li>
	<li>During the incubation, produce the &#8216;total&#8217; and &#8216;zero&#8217; samples. Centrifuge the &#8216;total&#8217; microtubes for few seconds at 5,000 &#215; g and remove 50 &#181;l from the supernatant into &#8216;zero&#8217;-labeled microtubes and place them at 4&#176;C. Lyse the acini in the &#8216;total&#8217; samples by adding Triton X-100 to the microtubes to reach a final concentration of 1%. Vortex the microtubes vigorously. 
	NOTE: Aliquote the &#8216;total&#8217; replicates similar to the replicates of the experiment. Lysing the acini, leads to the release of the total amylase content. Alternatively, collect the acini at each condition and lyse at the end of the experiment, to determine the cellular content of each replicate.</li>
	<li>Collect most of the acinar suspension into the first set of the pre-labeled microtubes. Centrifuge the microtubes for a few seconds at 5,000 &#215; g. Transfer the supernatant into the second set of the pre-labeled microtubes.</li>
	<li>Assay the supernatant for amylase activity with a commercial kit. Calculate the percentage of amylase secreted. 
	NOTE: It is crucial to read the amylase activity at its linear range. Present the percentage of amylase secreted as the percent of amylase released from initial total content. Subtract the background amylase level of the medium from each triplicate and divide it by the similarly normalized initial total content.</li>
</ol>
3. Live Imaging of Pancreatic Secretion
Secretion from pancreatic acini can be monitored directly by live imaging. Using various fluorescent dyes and sensors, live imaging allows the characterization of secretion at a sub-cellular resolution.
<ol>
	<li>Prepare freshly oxygenated resuspension medium as in step 1.1 and bring it to 37 &#186;C. Set the microscope, and if equipped with a temperature controller, adjust it to 37 &#186;C.</li>
	<li>Wash the acinar cells in 30 ml of resuspension medium and place them in a glass or plastic slide. Note: If lipophilic dyes are to be used to label For plasma membrane labeled with lipophilic dyes, stain the acini for not more than 5 min&#160;to prevent labeling of internal membranes by endocytosis. Throughout the work, handle the acini gently and avoid excessive pipetting.</li>
	<li>Once at the microscope, image acini whose morphology is clear, and avoid imaging of acini which display basolateral blebs or intracellular vacuoles. Add secretagogue drop wise or by using a perfusion chamber, either during or immediately prior to the initiation of imaging. 
	NOTE: A high magnification lenses with high numeric apertures (e.g. &#215;63/1.4 or &#215;100/1.4) is recommended to observe subcellular structures.</li>
</ol>
4. O/N Culture of Pancreatic Acini (Alternate Cell Culture Technique)
NOTE: O/N culturing is often used for Adeno virus infection. Infection is carried out at 106-107 pfu/ml for 9 - 16 hr before examination.
<ol>
	<li>Culture pancreatic acini for up to 20 hr. Resuspended acini obtained from a single pancreas in 25 ml culture medium (DMEM supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS) (5%), sodium-pyruvate (1%), antibiotics (1%), L-glutamine (0.5%), BSA (10 mg/ml) and STI (0.2 mg/ml), and divided to five 10cm plates. Infect the acini with virus in a level 3 bio-safety cabinet.</li>
	<li>Incubated pancreatic acini at 37&#186;C in a 5% CO2 humidified air. Allow acini to recover in oxygenated resuspension medium for 30 min&#160;before subsequent examination3,8.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Williams, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Regulation+of+pancreatic+acinar+cell+function.">Regulation of pancreatic acinar cell function.</a> Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. 22, 498-504 (2006).</li><li>Schnekenburger, 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=The+role+of+kinesin,+dynein+and+microtubules+in+pancreatic+secretion.">The role of kinesin, dynein and microtubules in pancreatic secretion.</a> Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS. 66, 2525-2537 (2009).</li><li>Geron, E., Schejter, E. D., Shilo, B. Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Directing+exocrine+secretory+vesicles+to+the+apical+membrane+by+actin+cables+generated+by+the+formin+mDia1.">Directing exocrine secretory vesicles to the apical membrane by actin cables generated by the formin mDia1.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 110, 10652-10657 (2013).</li><li>Amsterdam, A., Jamieson, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structural+and+functional+characterization+of+isolated+pancreatic+exocrine+cells.">Structural and functional characterization of isolated pancreatic exocrine cells.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 69, 3028-3032 (1972).</li><li>Williams, J. A., Korc, M., Dormer, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Action+of+secretagogues+on+a+new+preparation+of+functionally+intact,+isolated+pancreatic+acini.">Action of secretagogues on a new preparation of functionally intact, isolated pancreatic acini.</a> The American journal of physiology. 235, 517-524 (1978).</li><li>Jerdeva, G. V., 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=Actin+and+non-muscle+myosin+II+facilitate+apical+exocytosis+of+tear+proteins+in+rabbit+lacrimal+acinar+epithelial+cells.">Actin and non-muscle myosin II facilitate apical exocytosis of tear proteins in rabbit lacrimal acinar epithelial cells.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 118, 4797-4812 (2005).</li><li>Menozzi, D., Jensen, R. T., Gardner, J. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dispersed+pancreatic+acinar+cells+and+pancreatic+acini.">Dispersed pancreatic acinar cells and pancreatic acini.</a> Methods in Enzymology. , 192-271 (1990).</li><li>Bi, Y., Williams, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+role+for+Rho+and+Rac+in+secretagogue-induced+amylase+release+by+pancreatic+acini.">A role for Rho and Rac in secretagogue-induced amylase release by pancreatic acini.</a> Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 289, C22-C32 (2005).</li><li>Palade, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intracellular+aspects+of+the+process+of+protein+synthesis.">Intracellular aspects of the process of protein synthesis.</a> Science. 189, 867 (1975).</li><li>Masedunskas, 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=Role+for+the+actomyosin+complex+in+regulated+exocytosis+revealed+by+intravital+microscopy.">Role for the actomyosin complex in regulated exocytosis revealed by intravital microscopy.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 108, 13552-13557 (2011).</li><li>Petersen, H., Grossman, M. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pancreatic+exocrine+secretion+in+anesthetized+and+conscious+rats.">Pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized and conscious rats.</a> The American Journal of Physiology. 233, E530-E536 (1977).</li><li>Riedl, 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=Lifeact:+a+versatile+marker+to+visualize+F-actin.">Lifeact: a versatile marker to visualize F-actin.</a> Nat Methods. 5, 605-607 (2008).</li><li>Porat-Shliom, N., Milberg, O., Masedunskas, A., Weigert, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiple+roles+for+the+actin+cytoskeleton+during+regulated+exocytosis.">Multiple roles for the actin cytoskeleton during regulated exocytosis.</a> Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS. 70, 2099-2121 (2013).</li></ol>

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

Besides the ex&#160;vivo culture, alternative setups for the study of exocrine secretion include intravital microscopy and measurement of fluids from the pancreatic duct. Intravital microscopy was shown to operate well in the mouse salivary glands10. This method can record secretion in real time in the intact animal, but is limited in its resolution and by the means for manipulating the exocrine tissue. Assessing secretion by collecting fluids from the pancreatic duct was achieved in anesthetized rats...

The exocrine pancreas constitutes most of the mass of the mammalian pancreas and is dedicated to production and secretion of digestive enzymes1. The functional unit of the exocrine pancreas, the acinus, is a cluster of epithelial cells which forms and shares a joint lumen. Upon hormonal or neuronal stimulation, vesicles filled with enzymes are transported to the apical cell surface, fuse with it and expel their content into the lumen1-3. The secreted enzymes are then drained by a coalescing set of ducts into the small intestine, where they catalyze the breakdown of food into nutrients.
This video demonstrates how intact acini are isolated from the whole pancreas and how their secretory capacity can be assessed. Using this setup, pancreatic secretion is quantified by measuring the relative amount of amylase that was released following stimulation. Alternatively, secretion can be imaged live by the use of different sensors and dyes.
The ex&#160;vivo setup of pancreatic acini is advantageous since isolated acini, which retain many characteristics of the intact pancreas, can be manipulated and monitored more readily than in the whole animal4-6. This setup was originally developed in the late 1970&#8217;s and was since extended for the study of several exocrine tissues such as the salivary and mammary glands3-7. Notably, it allows the study of secretion with minimal interference to the complex cellular organizations of these polarized epithelia.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="655">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">ICR mice</td>
			<td style="width:115px;">Harlan</td>
			<td style="width:91px;"></td>
			<td style="width:203px;">Any strain will do</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">HBSS</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>H8264</td>
			<td>Can substitude for KRB</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">BSA</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>A7906</td>
			<td>Fraction V</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Trypsin inhibitor</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>T9003</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Collagenase XI&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>C0130</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Nylon mesh</td>
			<td>BD Falcon</td>
			<td>352360</td>
			<td>70-100&#181;m</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Amylase infinity reagent&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo</td>
			<td>TR25421</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">CCK</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>C2175</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">FM4-64</td>
			<td>Lifetechnologies</td>
			<td>F34653</td>
			<td>Diluted to 16&#181;M</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">20mL scintillation vial</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>Z190527</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;"></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;"></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;"></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DeltaVision system&#160;</td>
			<td>Applied Precision</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Consisting of an inverted microscope IX71 equipped with 60x/1.4 or 100x/1.3 objectives (Olympus)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Zeiss 510 or 710 confocal microscope</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>60x/1.4 or 100x/1.4 objectives&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ultra Microplate reader</td>
			<td>BioTek</td>
			<td>ELx808</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

assessing the secretory capacity of pancreatic acinar cells

Pancreatic acinar cells produce and secrete digestive enzymes. These cells are organized as a cluster which forms and shares a joint lumen. This work demonstrates how the secretory capacity of these cells can be assessed by culture of isolated acini. The setup is advantageous since isolated acini, which retain many characteristics of the intact exocrine pancreas can be manipulated and monitored more readily than in the whole animal. Proper isolation of pancreatic acini is a key requirement so that the ex&#160;vivo culture will represent the in&#160;vivo nature of the acini. The protocol demonstrates how to isolate intact acini from the mouse pancreas. Subsequently, two complementary methods for evaluating pancreatic secretion are presented. The amylase secretion assay serves as a global measure, while direct imaging of pancreatic secretion allows the characterization of secretion at a sub-cellular resolution. Collectively, the techniques presented here enable a broad spectrum of experiments to study exocrine secretion.

Pancreatic acini that were isolated properly display a stereotypic morphology when viewed by transmitted light. Their basolateral domains should appear round and devoid of blebs. The apical domain is surrounded by hundreds of secretory vesicles and appears darker in color (Figure 2A, B). The nuclei are located basal to the vesicular area. Cell debris and components of the pancreatic ductal system and of the endocrine pancreas, which can be detected at early stages of acini isolation (Figure 2C, D...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Assessing the Secretory Capacity of Pancreatic Acinar Cells at JoVE.com

Assessing the Secretory Capacity of Pancreatic Acinar Cells

Isolated pancreatic acini retain their in&#160;vivo morphology and activity and offer powerful ways for monitoring and manipulating secretion. This work demonstrates how acini can be isolated from the mouse pancreas, and how their secretory capacities can be assessed.

Pancreatic acinar cells produce and secrete digestive enzymes. These cells are organized as a cluster which forms and shares a joint lumen. This work ...

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16.5K Views.  Weizmann Institute of Science. Isolated pancreatic acini retain their in vivo morphology and activity and offer powerful ways for monitoring and manipulating secretion. This work demonstrates how acini can be isolated from the mouse pancreas, and how their secretory capacities can be assessed.

Video: Assessing the Secretory Capacity of Pancreatic Acinar Cells

Isolation of Stem Cells from Human Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a growing number of malignancies and are functionally defined by their ability to undergo self-renewal and produce differentiated progeny1. These properties allow CSCs to recapitulate the original tumor when injected into immunocompromised mice. CSCs within an epithelial malignancy were first described in breast cancer and found to display specific cell surface antigen expression (CD44+CD24low/-)2. Since then, CSCs have been identified in an increasing number of other human malignancies using CD44 and CD24 as well as a number of other surface antigens. Physiologic properties, including aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, have also been used to isolate CSCs from malignant tissues3-5.
Recently, we and others identified CSCs from pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on
ALDH activity and the expression of the cell surface antigens CD44 and CD24, and CD1336-8. These highly tumorigenic populations may or may not be overlapping and display other functions. We found that ALDH+ and CD44+CD24+ pancreatic CSCs are similarly tumorigenic, but ALDH+ cells are relatively more invasive8. In this protocol we describe a method to isolate viable pancreatic CSCs from low-passage human
xenografts9. Xenografted tumors are harvested from mice and made into a single-cell suspension. Tissue debris and dead cells are separated from live cells and then stained using antibodies against CD44 and CD24 and using the ALDEFLUOR reagent,
a fluorescent substrate of ALDH10. CSCs are then isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting. Isolated CSCs can then be used for analytical or functional assays requiring viable cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a number of malignancies. In this protocol we describe a flow cytometric method utilizing aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and CD44 and CD24 expression to isolate CSCs from human pancreatic adenocarcinoma xenografts. These viable cells can then be used in functional and analytical studies.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in a growing number of malignancies and are functionally defined by their ability to undergo self-renewal ...

Preparation of Pancreatic Acinar Cells for the Purpose of Calcium Imaging, Cell Injury Measurements, and Adenoviral Infection

The pancreatic acinar cell is the main parenchymal cell of the exocrine pancreas and plays a primary role in the secretion of pancreatic enzymes into the pancreatic duct. It is also the site for the initiation of pancreatitis. Here we describe how acinar cells are isolated from whole pancreas tissue and intracellular calcium signals are measured. In addition, we describe the techniques of transfecting these cells with adenoviral constructs, and subsequently measuring the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, a marker of cell injury, during conditions that induce acinar cell injury in vitro. These techniques provide a powerful tool to characterize acinar cell physiology and pathology.

We describe a reproducible method of preparing mouse pancreatic acinar cells from a mouse for the purpose of examining acinar cell calcium signals and cellular injury with physiologically and pathologically relevant stimuli. A method for adenoviral infection of these cells is also provided.

The pancreatic acinar  cell is the main parenchymal cell of the exocrine pancreas and plays a primary  role in the secretion of pancreatic enzymes into ...

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 ...

Phenotyping Mouse Pulmonary Function In Vivo with the Lung Diffusing Capacity

The mouse is now the primary animal used to model a variety of lung diseases. To study the mechanisms that underlie such pathologies, phenotypic methods are needed that can quantify the pathologic changes. Furthermore, to provide translational relevance to the mouse models, such measurements should be tests that can easily be done in both humans and mice. Unfortunately, in the present literature few phenotypic measurements of lung function have direct application to humans. One exception is the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, which is a measurement that is routinely done in humans. In the present report, we describe a means to quickly and simply measure this diffusing capacity in mice. The procedure involves brief lung inflation with tracer gases in an anesthetized mouse, followed by a 1 min gas analysis time. We have tested the ability of this method to detect several lung pathologies, including emphysema, fibrosis, acute lung injury, and influenza and fungal lung infections, as well as monitoring lung maturation in young pups. Results show significant decreases in all the lung pathologies, as well as an increase in the diffusing capacity with lung maturation. This measurement of lung diffusing capacity thus provides a pulmonary function test that has broad application with its ability to detect phenotypic structural changes with most of the existing pathologic lung models.

Phenotyping Mouse Pulmonary Function In Vivo with the Lung Diffusing Capacity

We describe a means to quickly and simply measure the lung diffusing capacity in mice and show that it is sufficiently sensitive to phenotype changes in multiple common lung pathologies. This metric thus brings direct translational relevance to the mouse models, since diffusing capacity is also easily measured in humans.

The mouse is now the primary animal used to model a variety of lung diseases. To study the mechanisms that underlie such pathologies, phenotypic methods ...

Differentiation Capacity of Human Aortic Perivascular Adipose Progenitor Cells

Adipose tissue is a rich source of multi-potent mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) capable of differentiating into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Adipogenic differentiation of progenitor cells is a major mechanism driving adipose tissue expansion and dysfunction in response to obesity. Understanding changes to perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is thus clinically relevant in metabolic disease. However, previous studies have been predominately performed in the mouse and other animal models. This protocol uses human thoracic PVAT samples collected from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Adipose tissue from the ascending aorta was collected and used for explantation of the stromal vascular fraction. We previously confirmed the presence of adipose progenitor cells in human PVAT with the capacity to differentiate into lipid-containing adipocytes. In this study, we further analyzed the differentiation potential of cells from the stromal vascular fraction, presumably containing multi-potent progenitor cells. We compared PVAT-derived cells to human bone marrow MSC for differentiation into adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. Following 14 days of differentiation, specific stains were utilized to detect lipid accumulation in adipocytes (Oil red O), calcific deposits in osteogenic cells (Alizarin Red), or glycosaminoglycans and collagen in chondrogenic cells (Masson&#8217;s Trichrome). While bone marrow MSC efficiently differentiated into all three lineages, PVAT-derived cells had adipogenic and chondrogenic potential, but lacked robust osteogenic potential.

The goal of this protocol is to test the ability of progenitor cells derived from human perivascular adipose tissue to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. Differentiation was compared to mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow, which is known to differentiate into adipocyte, osteocyte, and chondrocyte lineages.

Adipose tissue is a rich source of multi-potent mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) capable of differentiating into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic ...

Imaging Calcium Dynamics in Subpopulations of Mouse Pancreatic Islet Cells

Pancreatic islet hormones regulate blood glucose homeostasis. Changes in blood glucose induce oscillations of cytosolic calcium in pancreatic islet cells that trigger secretion of three main hormones: insulin (from &#946;-cells), glucagon (&#945;-cells) and somatostatin (&#948;-cells). &#946;-Cells, which make up the majority of islet cells and are electrically coupled to each other, respond to the glucose stimulus as one single entity. The excitability of the minor subpopulations, &#945;-cells and &#948;-cells (making up around 20% (30%) and 4% (10%) of the total rodent1 (human2) islet cell numbers, respectively) is less predictable and is therefore of special interest.
Calcium sensors are delivered into the peripheral layer of cells within the isolated islet. The islet or a group of islets is then immobilized and imaged using a fluorescence microscope. The choice of the imaging mode is between higher throughput (wide-field) and better spatial resolution (confocal). Conventionally, laser scanning confocal microscopy is used for imaging tissue, as it provides the best separation of the signal between the neighboring cells. A wide-field system can be utilized too, if the contaminating signal from the dominating population of &#946;-cells is minimized.
Once calcium dynamics in response to specific stimuli have been recorded, data are expressed in numerical form as fluorescence intensity vs. time, normalized to the initial fluorescence and baseline-corrected, to remove the effects linked to bleaching of the fluorophore. Changes in the spike frequency or partial area under the curve (pAUC) are computed vs. time, to quantify the observed effects. pAUC is more sensitive and quite robust whereas spiking frequency provides more information on the mechanism of calcium increase.
Minor cell subpopulations can be identified using functional responses to marker compounds, such as adrenaline and ghrelin, that induce changes in cytosolic calcium in a specific populations of islet cells.

Here, we present a protocol for imaging and quantifying calcium dynamics in heterogeneous cell populations, such as pancreatic islet cells. Fluorescent reporters are delivered into the peripheral layer of cells within the islet, which is then immobilized and imaged, and per-cell analysis of the dynamics of fluorescence intensity is performed.

Pancreatic islet hormones regulate blood glucose homeostasis. Changes in blood glucose induce oscillations of cytosolic calcium in pancreatic islet cells ...

The Use of the Patch-Clamp Technique to Study the Thermogenic Capacity of Mitochondria

Mitochondrial thermogenesis (also known as mitochondrial uncoupling) is one of the most promising targets for increasing energy expenditure to combat metabolic syndrome. Thermogenic tissues such as brown and beige fats develop highly specialized mitochondria for heat production. Mitochondria of other tissues, which primarily produce ATP, also convert up to 25% of the total mitochondrial energy production into heat and can, therefore, have a considerable impact on the physiology of the whole body. Mitochondrial thermogenesis is not only essential for maintaining the body temperature, but also prevents diet-induced obesity and reduces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to protect cells from oxidative damage. Since mitochondrial thermogenesis is a key regulator of cellular metabolism, a mechanistic understanding of this fundamental process will help in the development of therapeutic strategies to combat many pathologies associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Importantly, the precise molecular mechanisms that control acute activation of thermogenesis in mitochondria are poorly defined. This lack of information is largely due to a dearth of methods for the direct measurement of uncoupling proteins. The recent development of patch-clamp methodology applied to mitochondria enabled, for the first time, the direct study of the phenomenon at the origin of mitochondrial thermogenesis, H+ leak through the IMM, and the first biophysical characterization of mitochondrial transporters responsible for it, the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), specific of brown and beige fats, and the ADP/ATP transporter (AAC) for all other tissues. This unique approach will provide new insights into the mechanisms that control H+ leak and mitochondrial thermogenesis and how they can be targeted to combat metabolic syndrome. This paper describes the patch-clamp methodology applied to mitochondria to study their thermogenic capacity by directly measuring H+ currents through the IMM.

This method article details the main steps in measuring H+ leak across the inner mitochondrial membrane with the patch-clamp technique, a new approach to study the thermogenic capacity of mitochondria.

Mitochondrial thermogenesis (also known as mitochondrial uncoupling) is one of the most promising targets for increasing energy expenditure to combat ...

Quantifying Retinal Pigment Epithelial Phagocytosis and Lipofuscin Accumulation

Improved Lipofuscin Models and Quantification of Outer Segment Phagocytosis Capacity in Highly Polarized Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cultures

The daily phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) contributes to the accumulation of an intracellular aging pigment termed lipofuscin. The toxicity of lipofuscin is well established in Stargardt's disease, the most common inherited retinal degeneration, but is more controversial in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. Determining lipofuscin toxicity in humans has been difficult, and animal models of Stargardt's have limited toxicity. Thus, in vitro models that mimic human RPE in vivo are needed to better understand lipofuscin generation, clearance, and toxicity. The majority of cell culture lipofuscin models to date have been in cell lines or have involved feeding RPE a single component of the complex lipofuscin mixture rather than fragments/tips of the entire photoreceptor outer segment, which generates a more complete and physiologic lipofuscin model. Described here is a method to induce the accumulation of lipofuscin-like material (termed undigestible autofluorescence material, or UAM) in highly differentiated primary human pre-natal RPE (hfRPE) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived RPE. UAM accumulated in cultures by repeated feedings of ultraviolet light-treated OS fragments taken up by the RPE via phagocytosis. The key ways that UAM approximates and differs from lipofuscin in vivo are also discussed. Accompanying this model of lipofuscin-like accumulation, imaging methods to distinguish the broad autofluorescence spectrum of UAM granules from concurrent antibody staining are introduced. Finally, to assess the impact of UAM on RPE phagocytosis capacity, a new method for quantifying outer segment fragment/tips uptake and breakdown has been introduced. Termed "Total Consumptive Capacity", this method overcomes potential misinterpretations of RPE phagocytosis capacity inherent in classic outer segment "pulse-chase" assays. The models and techniques introduced here can be used to study lipofuscin generation and clearance pathways and putative toxicity.

Author Spotlight: Improved Lipofuscin Models and Quantification of Outer Segment Phagocytosis Capacity in Highly Polarized Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cultures  

This protocol describes a lipofuscin accumulation model in highly differentiated and polarized human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cultures and an improved outer segment (OS) phagocytosis assay to detect the total OS consumption/degradation capacity of the RPE. These methods overcome the limitations of previous lipofuscin models and classical pulse-chase outer segment phagocytosis assays.

The daily phagocytosis of photoreceptor outer segments by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) contributes to the accumulation of an intracellular aging ...

Quantitative Analysis of Mitophagy in Murine Pancreatic &#946;-Cells

Complementary Approaches to Interrogate Mitophagy Flux in Pancreatic &#946;-Cells

Mitophagy is a quality control mechanism necessary to maintain optimal mitochondrial function. Dysfunctional &#946;-cell mitophagy results in insufficient insulin release. Advanced quantitative assessments of mitophagy often require the use of genetic reporters. The mt-Keima mouse model, which expresses a mitochondria-targeted pH-sensitive dual-excitation ratiometric probe for quantifying mitophagy via flow cytometry, has been optimized in &#946;-cells. The ratio of acidic-to-neutral mt-Keima wavelength emissions can be used to robustly quantify mitophagy. However, using genetic mitophagy reporters can be challenging when working with complex genetic mouse models or difficult-to-transfect cells, such as primary human islets. This protocol describes a novel complementary dye-based method to quantify &#946;-cell mitophagy in primary islets using MtPhagy. MtPhagy is a pH-sensitive, cell-permeable dye that accumulates in the mitochondria and increases its fluorescence intensity when mitochondria are in low pH environments, such as lysosomes during mitophagy. By combining the MtPhagy dye with Fluozin-3-AM, a Zn2+ indicator that selects for &#946;-cells, and Tetramethylrhodamine, ethyl ester (TMRE) to assess mitochondrial membrane potential, mitophagy flux can be quantified specifically in &#946;-cells via flow cytometry. These two approaches are highly complementary, allowing for flexibility and precision in assessing mitochondrial quality control in numerous &#946;-cell models.

Author Spotlight: Assessment of Mitophagy Flux in Pancreatic &#946;-Cells Using Effective and Robust Complementary Approaches 

This protocol outlines two methods for the quantitative analysis of mitophagy in pancreatic &#946;-cells: first, a combination of cell-permeable mitochondria-specific dyes, and second, a genetically encoded mitophagy reporter. These two techniques are complementary and can be deployed based on specific needs, allowing for flexibility and precision in quantitatively addressing mitochondrial quality control.

Mitophagy is a quality control mechanism necessary to maintain optimal mitochondrial function. Dysfunctional &#946;-cell mitophagy results in insufficient ...

Intracellular Signaling Events and Hormone Secretion in Human Pseudoislets

Human Pseudoislet System for Synchronous Assessment of Fluorescent Biosensor Dynamics and Hormone Secretory Profiles

The pancreatic islets of Langerhans, which are small 3D collections of specialized endocrine and supporting cells interspersed throughout the pancreas, have a central role in the control of glucose homeostasis through the secretion of insulin by beta cells, which lowers blood glucose, and glucagon by alpha cells, which raises blood glucose. Intracellular signaling pathways, including those mediated by cAMP, are key for regulated alpha and beta cell hormone secretion. The 3D islet structure, while essential for coordinated islet function, presents experimental challenges for mechanistic studies of the intracellular signaling pathways in primary human islet cells. To overcome these challenges and limitations, this protocol describes an integrated live-cell imaging and microfluidic platform using primary human pseudoislets generated from donors without diabetes that resemble native islets in their morphology, composition, and function. These pseudoislets are size-controlled through the dispersion and reaggregation process of primary human islet cells. In the dispersed state, islet cell gene expression can be manipulated; for example, biosensors such as the genetically encoded cAMP biosensor, cADDis, can be introduced. Once formed, pseudoislets expressing a genetically encoded biosensor, in combination with confocal microscopy and a microperifusion platform, allow for the synchronous assessment of fluorescent biosensor dynamics and alpha and beta cell hormone secretory profiles to provide more insight into cellular processes and function.

Author Spotlight: Investigating Islet Abnormalities and Function with a Pseudoislet Protocol 

This protocol describes a method for the synchronous acquisition and co-registration of intracellular signaling events and the secretion of insulin and glucagon by primary human pseudoislets using the adenoviral delivery of a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) biosensor, a cAMP difference detector in situ (cADDis), and a microperifusion system.

The pancreatic islets of Langerhans, which are small 3D collections of specialized endocrine and supporting cells interspersed throughout the pancreas, ...