The authors would like to thank Eric Fonteyn for excellent technical assistance. This work has been supported by the KU Leuven (grant no. PF/10/018), Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO, grant no. G.485.08) and the Fondation Dormeur Vaduz.

1. Maintenance of Cell Culture
NOTE: All steps described under 1 and 2 are carried out under sterile conditions in a laminar flow cabinet.
<ol>
	<li>Grow cells in T75 culture flasks at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2 in a humidified incubator. 
	NOTE: In this assay, Jurkat cells (i.e., human leukemic T lymphocyte cells that endogenously express CXCR417) are used. Expression of CXCR4 at the cell surface should be evaluated throughout cell culturing by means of flow cytometry. A description of the flow cytometry procedure and reagents to determine receptor expression levels at the cell surface is, however, not within the scope of this protocol, but has been described previously17.</li>
	<li>Let Jurkat cells grow in suspension until they reach 80 - 85% confluency. Before passaging the cells to a novel flask, allow all reagents to reach room temperature (RT).</li>
	<li>Add 20 mL of fresh complete growth medium (RPMI-1640 medium, 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2 mM glutamine) to a novel T75 culture flask.</li>
	<li>Add 5 mL of Jurkat cell suspension from the original T75 flask (containing 25 mL of cell suspension) to the novel T75 culture flask. Incubate at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2 in a humidified incubator.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of CXCL12, Assay Buffer, and Jurkat Cells for the Competition Binding Assay.
<ol>
	<li>Prepare a stock solution of CXCL12AF647 (20 &#181;g/mL; see Table of Materials and Reagents) by dissolving the lyophilized reagent (stored at -80 &#176;C, in the dark) in ultrapure water supplemented with 0.01% (volume/volume) of Polysorbate 20. Store single use aliquots from this stock solution at -80 &#176;C, protected from light.</li>
	<li>Prepare assay buffer by adding 40 mL HEPES (1 M, 20 mM final concentration) to 200 mL Hank&#39;s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS, 10x, without phenol red and without sodium bicarbonate, 1x final concentration). Add ultrapure water to obtain a final volume of 2 L. Add 4 g (0.2% weight/volume) bovine serum albumin (BSA), and dissolve the BSA via magnetic stirring. Finally, adjust the pH to 7.4 (use NaOH for this) and filter the solution through 0.2 &#181;m pores (see Table of Materials and Reagents) using a vacuum manifold. 
	NOTE: This assay buffer will be used in all further steps of the protocol.</li>
	<li>Count the number and the viability of the cells. For this, take a sample of the cell suspension and dilute it in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). 
	NOTE: We routinely use an automated cell viability analyzer (see Table of Materials and Reagents) capable of counting cell suspensions at varying concentrations. For cell counting, dilute 0.5 mL of cell suspension in 1.5 mL PBS (other dilutions, e.g., 0.1 mL in 1.9 mL PBS, are also possible). The use of this method, which is based on the trypan blue dye exclusion method, has been described previously26. Several other devices are commercially available for counting cell number and viability that should work equally well.</li>
	<li>Collect the desired number of cells (i.e., ~24 x 106 cells to run the assay with one complete 96-well plate) in a sterile 50 mL tube by centrifugation (see Table of Materials and Reagents for the type of centrifuge used) at 400 x g for 5 min at RT.</li>
	<li>Gently pour off the supernatant without disturbing the cell pellet. Add fresh assay buffer (e.g., 20 mL) and resuspend the cells by gently pipetting up and down.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the cells again at 400 x g for 5 min at RT.</li>
	<li>Pour off the supernatant again and resuspend the cell pellet in fresh assay buffer to obtain a density of 5 x 106 cells/mL.</li>
</ol>
3. Competition Binding Assay
NOTE: The actual competition binding assay is performed at RT and can be performed under non-sterile conditions.
<ol>
	<li>Dilute the compounds under investigation in assay buffer (see 2.2) to obtain the desired concentration. Either prepare a fixed concentration of compound for initial screening (e.g., 10 &#181;M final concentration) or, alternatively, a serial dilution series of concentrations for more detailed characterization of the compounds (e.g., a 1/3, 1/4 or 1/5 dilution series starting at 1 &#181;M, final concentration). Keep in mind that the compound solution will ultimately become 2x diluted in the assay; therefore, prepare a 2x concentrated solution.</li>
	<li>Dispense 100 &#181;L of compound solution (2x concentrated) into a clear 96-well round bottom plate (see Table of Materials and Reagents) according to a pre-defined experimental lay out (e.g., Figure 1C). 
	NOTE: At this stage, negative and positive control samples are included in the assay. In the negative control sample, 100 &#181;L of assay buffer is added instead of compound to the wells of the 96-well plate. For the positive control sample, assay buffer is also added during this step. See also Figure 1C for a typical experimental layout in which a dilution series of several compounds is tested.</li>
	<li>Add 50 &#181;L of cell suspension (see 2.7; 0.25 x 106 cells) from a reagent reservoir into the 96-well plate using a multichannel pipette. Incubate the plate for 15 min at RT in the dark.</li>
	<li>Add 50 &#181;L of fluorescently labeled CXCL12 (i.e., 100 ng/mL of CXCL12AF647 in assay buffer, 4x concentrated, 25 ng/mL final concentration) from a similar reagent reservoir to the wells of the 96-well plate. Incubate for 30 min at RT in the dark. 
	NOTE: For the negative control samples, add assay buffer instead. Hence, the fluorescent signal detected in the negative control samples will correspond to the autofluorescent background signal (Figure 1A). For the positive control samples, add 50 &#181;L/well of CXCL12AF647. The positive control samples will yield the maximal fluorescence signal detected, since no potential inhibition by pre-incubation with compounds was included (Figure 1A).</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the 96-well plate at 400 x g for 5 min at RT. Remove the supernatant from the pelleted cells by flipping over the plate. Dry the plate on a tissue.</li>
	<li>Add 200 &#181;L of fresh assay buffer from a reagent reservoir to the wells using a multichannel pipette. Immediately proceed.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge the plate again for 5 min at 400 x g at RT. Remove the supernatant by flipping over the plate and again dry it on tissue.</li>
	<li>Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 200 &#181;L of 1% paraformaldehyde dissolved in PBS. This step will fix&#160;the cells.</li>
	<li>Continue the protocol immediately with the quantification of the fluorescence by flow cytometry.</li>
</ol>
4. Analysis of the samples by flow cytometry
CXCL12AF647 stained and fixated cells are now ready to be analyzed using flow cytometry. Several types of flow cytometers can be used, but they need to be equipped with the correct laser (i.e., a red laser, excitation range ~630 nm) for excitation and suitable filters for fluorophore detection (emission filters ~660 nm). They need to be capable of handling samples in a 96-well plate format. Examples of suitable flow cytometry devices are given in the Table of Materials and Reagents.
<ol>
	<li>Start up the device and open the corresponding software (see Table of Materials and Reagents).</li>
	<li>Select the following cellular parameters to be visualized in a dot blot format: forward scatter (FSC), side scatter (SSC) and the fluorophore (CXCL12AF647) detection channel. 
	NOTE: With the FSC parameter, cells are discriminated based on their size, since the detected light absorption is proportional to the cell&#39;s diameter. The SSC parameter, measuring light scattering at a 90&#176; angle, provides information about the granularity of the cells.</li>
	<li>Choose one sample (e.g., a negative control sample) to perform gating of a defined homogenous cell population based on the FSC and SSC parameters.
	<ol>
		<li>Select automatic injection of ~100 &#181;L of fixated cells from this negative control sample into the flow cytometer.Select the option &#34;mixing&#34; before injection and use a sample flow rate of 1.5 &#181;L/s.</li>
		<li>Run this sample by selecting &#34;Acquire Data.&#34;&#160;The FSC and SSC parameters for this sample will now appear on the screen.</li>
		<li>Select the software&#39;s gating tool. Based on the FSC and SSC dot blot visualization, pre-define a homogenous and viable cell population by gating. To do so, create a polygon (using the software&#39;s gating tool) that includes the homogenously distributed single cells (&#34;events&#34;) based on these two dimensions. 
		NOTE: The gating procedure aims to define a homogenous and viable cell population that will be used for further analysis. Gating relies on the assumption that the majority of viable cells will form a homogenous cell population based on the FSC and SSC parameters. By performing this step, cellular debris, dead cells, and cell aggregates can largely be excluded from further analysis. An illustration of the gating process is given in Figure 1B.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Select to analyze 20,000 &#34;events&#34; (i.e., single cells) per sample. 
	NOTE: This means that for each sample, 20,000 cells that fall within the pre-defined gate will eventually be analyzed. Data acquisition for each sample will continue until this number of events is analyzed.</li>
	<li>Start the run (select &#34;Record Data&#34;). The flow cytometry device will now analyze all samples one-by-one by recording the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) for each sample. This MFI corresponds to the mean fluorescent signal corresponding to the 20,000 cells that fall within the pre-defined gate.</li>
</ol>
5. Data analysis
Use the MFI obtained for each sample to perform all further calculations. Analysis of the flow cytometry data can be performed by several commercially available software packages (see Table of Materials and Reagents).
<ol>
	<li>To determine the percentage inhibition of the fluorescent binding signal, as a result of compound pre-incubation, apply the following formula: 
	<img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/57271/57271eq1.jpg" /> 
	Where: 
	MFIExp = the MFI of the experimental (= compound-treated) sample 
	MFIPC = the MFI of the positive control 
	MFINC = the MFI of the negative control</li>
	<li>To determine the IC50 value of a compound (i.e., the concentration of compound that can reduce the fluorescent binding signal by 50%), apply the following formula: 
	<img alt="Equation 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/57271/57271eq2.jpg" /> 
	Where: 
	Logconc.2 = the log of a concentration of compound that results in less than 50% inhibition of the difference between the MFI value of the PC and NC 
	Logconc.1 = the log of a concentration of compound that results in more than 50% inhibition of the difference between the MFI value of the PC and NC 
	NOTE: Alternatively, in case of highly active compounds, a dose-response curve covering several logs of magnitude can be generated based on the MFI corresponding to each tested concentration of compound. By applying non-linear regression curve fitting using appropriate software (see Table of Materials and Reagents), IC50 values can then be deduced from the generated curves. An example of this analysis approach is shown in Figure 3.</li>
</ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Compared to other types of binding assays (i.e., saturation binding and kinetic binding experiments), competition&#160;binding assays are best suited for screening purposes. Indeed, they allow evaluation of large batches of unlabeled compounds, for instance small molecules, by scoring their capability to interfere with the binding of a fixed amount of a labeled receptor ligand. Compounds that bind to other receptor sites than the labeled ligand might remain undetected in the assay. Although the competition bindi...

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface proteins that can be activated by extracellular ligands (e.g., peptides, protein hormones, amines), thereby regulating many physiological and developmental processes1. When an agonist occupies its GPCR binding pocket, the induced conformational change in the receptor protein promotes the binding of intracellular receptor-associated heterotrimeric G proteins, consisting of G&#945;-GDP and G&#946;&#947; subunits. The subsequent exchange of GTP for GDP on the G&#945; subunit results in the dissociation of the G protein subunits (G&#945;-GTP and G&#946;&#947;) that, in turn, will further initiate downstream signaling pathways2,3. When the G&#945;-GTP becomes hydrolyzed, re-association of the G&#945;-GDP and G&#946;&#947; subunits will convert the G protein back into its resting state3,4. Distinct types of G proteins exist (Gs, Gi/o, Gq, G12/13), which are categorized based on sequence similarity with the G&#945; subunit5. All of these G proteins induce defined intracellular signaling pathways that underlie the biological response to receptor activation. Subsequent to receptor activation, GPCR kinases (GRKs) phosphorylate the intracellular tail of GPCRs, thereby promoting interaction with &#946;-arrestins. This process leads to the termination of G protein signaling, receptor desensitization and internalization6. &#946;-arrestins are also part of multi-molecular complexes that trigger signaling cascades independent of G protein signaling7.
GPCRs are amongst the most validated molecular targets for therapeutic intervention, as deregulated GPCR-mediated signaling, for instance due to gain-of-function mutations in the receptor gene or receptor overexpression, contributes to the etiology of many human diseases8. Therefore, GPCRs represent one of the most important classes of drug targets investigated by the pharmaceutical industry8,9,10. A notable example of a clinically relevant GPCR is the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), which can be activated by a sole natural ligand, the CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12)11. Due to its established role as a major co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) entry and infection in cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) positive T-lymphocytes12, CXCR4 was first investigated as an antiviral drug target. CXCL12-CXCR4 interaction in the bone marrow further regulates the retention and homing of stem and progenitor cells13. Also, given its involvement in many aspects of cancer biology (e.g., tumor cell survival, metastasis, tumor-related angiogenesis)14 and several other human diseases (e.g., inflammatory diseases)15, CXCR4 raised significant interest as a promising target for drug discovery. AMD3100, a small molecule that specifically targets CXCR4, was initially discovered as an anti-HIV drug candidate16 and is still one of the most potent CXCR4 antagonists described to date17. Its development as an antiviral drug was, however, discontinued18. Currently this molecule is used as a stem cell mobilization agent during the treatment of multiple myeloma and lymphoma patients18. Several other chemically unrelated small molecules and biologics that inhibit CXCR4 function with varying potency have been described19.
Receptor binding methods are valuable tools in pharmacology that allow the identification of compounds (e.g., small molecules) that directly interact with the GPCR of interest. In order to perform binding studies, there is no need for prior knowledge concerning the intracellular signaling properties or functionality of a given GPCR. Although this can be considered to be an advantage, it implies that compounds for which receptor binding can be demonstrated need to be further characterized by evaluating their potential agonistic or antagonistic activity. This activity can be evaluated using pharmacological or biological assays related to the GPCR under study. Dependent on their activity profile, receptor binding molecules might then potentially evolve to become novel lead compounds for investigation in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Molecules that specifically bind to a receptor with high affinity can also serve as scaffolds to generate therapeutic or diagnostic tools, for instance by radiolabeling them for noninvasive in vivo imaging of tumor cells20, or as potential vehicles for targeted delivery of therapeutics21. In case of CXCR4, in vivo imaging of tumor cells has already been demonstrated using mouse models wherein labeled CXCR4-targeting molecules allowed the visualization of human cancer xenografts20,22,23.
In this report, we describe a detailed protocol for a competition binding assay that enables the identification of small molecules and biologics that directly interfere with agonist (CXCL12) binding to CXCR4. The basic principle of the assay is the competition between a fixed amount of fluorescently labeled ligand (CXCL12AF647, see Table of Materials and Reagents) and unlabeled compounds for binding to the receptor protein17,24. The specific fluorescent signal from labeled ligand bound to single cells expressing CXCR4 is then analyzed by flow cytometry. This fluorescent signal will be reduced when unlabeled small molecules disrupt the interaction between CXCL12AF647 and CXCR4. The assay uses non-manipulated living cells that endogenously express CXCR4 (i.e., Jurkat cells). Hence, no cell membrane preparation is required, which makes the assay convenient, fast and compatible with increased throughput. Since a fluorescently labeled ligand is used, radioactivity is avoided.
Because CXCL12 is the natural agonist for CXCR4, small molecule compounds that interfere with CXCL12AF647 binding in the assay are likely to interact with the orthosteric receptor binding site (i.e., the binding site occupied by the natural agonist). Molecules that would interact with receptor binding sites topographically distinct from the orthosteric binding site remain undetected,&#160;if they do not influence binding of CXCL12. For instance, positive and negative allosteric modulators, an important and emerging category of GPCR targeting molecules acting on allosteric binding sites25, will potentially not be picked up with this assay. In addition, whether the compounds identified with this binding assay function as receptor antagonists or as agonists cannot be derived. Investigation of the identified compounds in additional pharmacological or functional receptor-related assays will thus be required. These assays might include (a combination of) cellular fluorescence- or luminescence-based assays for the detection of second messengers (e.g., Ca2+, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)), phenotypic or biological assays and &#946;-arrestin recruitment assays, the choice of which depends on the specific signaling properties of the GPCR under study. Hence, the competitive binding assay described herein mainly serves as an initial screening assay that needs to be complemented with other cell-based assays to enable an in-depth characterization of compounds with receptor binding potency.

<table><tbody><tr><td>BD FACSCanto II</td><td>Becton Dickinson</td><td>Not applicable</td><td>Flow cytometry device</td></tr><tr><td>BD FACSDIVA Software</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>BD FACSArray</td><td>Becton Dickinson</td><td>Not applicable</td><td>Flow cytometry device</td></tr><tr><td>BD FACSArray System Software</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Graphpad Prism</td><td>Graphpad</td><td></td><td>software package used for nonlinear regression analysis in Figure 2 and Figure 3</td></tr><tr><td>FlowJo</td><td>FlowJo is now a wholly owned subsidiary of BD.</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Vi-CELL</td><td>Beckman Coulter</td><td>Not applicable</td><td>cell viability analyzer</td></tr><tr><td>Sigma 3-18 KS</td><td>Sigma</td><td>Not applicable</td><td>centrifuge</td></tr><tr><td>AMD3100</td><td>Sigma</td><td>A5602-5mg</td><td>specific CXCR4 antagonist</td></tr><tr><td>Maraviroc</td><td>Pfizer</td><td></td><td>antiretroviral drug, CCR5 antagonist, available for research at Selleckchem (cat#S2003), Sigma (cat#PZ0002)</td></tr><tr><td>h-SDF1a (AF647)</td><td>ALMAC</td><td>CAF-11-B-01</td><td>fluorescently labeled CXCL12, CXCL12AF647</td></tr><tr><td>Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td><td>Gibco (Life Technologies)</td><td>10270-106</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td><td>Sigma</td><td>A1933-25G</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HBSS (10x), calcium, magnesium, no phenol red</td><td>Gibco (Life Technologies)</td><td>14065-049</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HEPES (1M)</td><td>Gibco (Life Technologies)</td><td>15630-056</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dulbecco&#039;s Phosphate Buffered Saline (DPBS)</td><td>Gibco (Life Technologies)</td><td>14190-094</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Jurkat cells</td><td>ATCC</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Reagent reservoir PP</td><td>Sigma</td><td>BR703411</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Rapid flow filter: 0.2 &amp;micro;m aPES</td><td>Thermo Scientific</td><td>566-0020</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sterilin microtiter plate, 96-well, U bottom, clear</td><td>Thermo Scientific</td><td>611U96</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Falcon tubes, 50ml</td><td>Greiner Bio-One</td><td>227 261</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tissue culture flask (T75)</td><td>Corning</td><td>353024</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

a flow cytometry-based assay to identify compounds that disrupt binding of fluorescently-labeled cxc chemokine ligand 12 to cxc chemokine receptor 4

Pharmacological targeting of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is of great importance to human health, as dysfunctional GPCR-mediated signaling contributes to the progression of many diseases. The ligand/receptor pair CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12)/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) has raised significant clinical interest, for instance as a potential target for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Small molecules as well as therapeutic antibodies that specifically target CXCR4 and inhibit the receptor&#39;s function are therefore considered to be valuable pharmacological tools. Here, a flow cytometry-based cellular assay that allows identification of compounds (e.g., small molecules) that abrogate CXCL12 binding to CXCR4, is described. Essentially, the assay relies on the competition for receptor binding between a fixed amount of fluorescently labeled CXCL12, the natural chemokine agonist for CXCR4, and unlabeled compounds. Hence, the undesirable use of radioactively labeled probes is avoided in this assay. In addition, living cells are used as the source of receptor (CXCR4) instead of cell membrane preparations. This allows easy adaptation of the assay to a plate format, which increases the throughput. This assay has been shown to be a valuable generic drug discovery assay to identify CXCR4-targeting compounds. The protocol can likely be adapted to other GPCRs, at least if fluorescently labeled ligands are available or can be generated. Prior knowledge concerning the intracellular signaling pathways that are induced upon activation of these GPCRs, is not required.

The general workflow of the binding assay is presented in Figure 1A. An illustration of the type of flow cytometry data obtained for different sample types in a standard experiment (i.e., negative control, positive control, and experimental sample) is depicted in Figure 1B, and a possible plate layout to perform the assay in a 96-well plate format is given in Figure 1C. Incubation of Jurkat ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 at JoVE.c

A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4

A flow cytometry-based cellular binding assay is described that is primarily used as a screening tool to identify compounds that inhibit the binding of a fluorescently labeled CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) to the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4).

Pharmacological targeting of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is of great importance to human health, as dysfunctional GPCR-mediated signaling ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

13.6K Views.  KU Leuven. A flow cytometry-based cellular binding assay is described that is primarily used as a screening tool to identify compounds that inhibit the binding of a fluorescently labeled CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) to the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4).

Video: A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4

Cell-based Flow Cytometry Assay to Measure Cytotoxic Activity

Cytolytic activity of CD8+ T cells is rarely evaluated. We describe here a new cell-based assay to measure the capacity of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells to kill CD4+ T cells loaded with their cognate peptide. Target CD4+ T cells are divided into two populations, labeled with two different concentrations of CFSE. One population is pulsed with the peptide of interest (CFSE-low) while the other remains un-pulsed (CFSE-high). Pulsed and un-pulsed CD4+ T cells are mixed at an equal ratio and incubated with an increasing number of purified CD8+ T cells. The specific killing of autologous target CD4+ T cells is analyzed by flow cytometry after coculture with CD8+ T cells containing the antigen-specific effector CD8+ T cells detected by peptide/MHCI tetramer staining. The specific lysis of target CD4+ T cells measured at different effector versus target ratios, allows for the calculation of lytic units, LU30/106 cells. This simple and straightforward assay allows for the accurate measurement of the intrinsic capacity of CD8+ T cells to kill target CD4+ T cells.

This protocol describes a sensitive, cell-based cytotoxicity assay. By enumerating the decrease in frequency of live target CD4+ T cells in the presence of an increasing number of effector CD8+ T cells, this assay allows for the direct assessment of cytolytic activity of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells.

Cytolytic activity of CD8+ T cells is rarely evaluated. We describe here a new cell-based assay to measure the capacity of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells ...

Immunology and Infection

Rapid and Robust Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Polarization Induced by Chemokine Signaling

Cells respond to chemokine stimulation by losing their round shape in a process called polarization, and by altering the subcellular localization of many proteins. Classic imaging techniques have been used to study these phenomena. However, they required the manual acquisition of many cells followed by time consuming quantification of the morphology and the co-localization of the staining of tens of cells. Here, a rapid and powerful method is described to study these phenomena on samples consisting of several thousands of cells using an imaging flow cytometry technology that combines the advantages of a microscope with those of a cytometer. Using T lymphocytes stimulated with CCL19 and staining for MHC Class I molecules and filamentous actin, a gating strategy is presented to measure simultaneously the degree of shape alterations and the extent of co-localization of markers that are affected by CCL19 signaling. Moreover, this gating strategy allowed us to observe the segregation of filamentous actin (at the front) and phosphorylated Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin (phospho-ERM) proteins (at the rear) in polarized T cells after CXCL12 stimulation. This technique was also useful to observe the blocking effect on polarization of two different elements: inhibition of actin polymerization by a pharmacological inhibitor and expression of mutants of the Par6/atypical PKC signaling pathway. Thus, evidence is shown that this technique is useful to analyze both morphological alterations and protein redistributions.

Chemokine signaling elicits marked alterations of cellular morphology and some important redistributions of intracellular proteins. Here, a rapid and detailed protocol is provided to study these events.

Cells respond to chemokine stimulation by losing their round shape in a process called polarization, and by altering the subcellular localization of many ...

A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer

A key challenge in developing an anticancer aptamer is to efficiently determine the selectivity and specificity of the developed aptamer to the target protein. Due to its several advantages over monoclonal antibodies, aptamer development has gained enormous popularity among cancer researchers. Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is the most common method of developing aptamers specific for proteins of interest. Following SELEX, a quick and efficient binding assay accelerates the process of identification, confirming the selectivity and specificity of the aptamer. 
This paper explains a step-by-step flow cytometric-based binding assay of an aptamer specific for epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM). The transmembrane glycoprotein EpCAM is overexpressed in most carcinomas and plays roles in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. Therefore, it is a valuable candidate for targeted drug delivery to tumors. To evaluate the selectivity and specificity of the aptamer to the membrane-bound EpCAM, EpCAM-positive and -negative cells are required. Additionally, a non-binding EpCAM aptamer with a similar length and 2-dimensional (2D) structure to the EpCAM-binding aptamer is required. The binding assay includes different buffers (blocking buffer, wash buffer, incubation buffer, and FACS buffer) and incubation steps. 
The aptamer is incubated with the cell lines. Following the incubation and washing steps, the cells will be evaluated using a sensitive flow cytometry assay. Analysis of the results shows the binding of the EpCAM-specific aptamer to EpCAM-positive cells and not the EpCAM-negative cells. In EpCAM-positive cells, this is depicted as a band shift in the binding of the EpCAM aptamer to the right compared to the non-binding aptamer control. In EpCAM-negative cells, the corresponding bands of EpCAM-binding and -non-binding aptamers overlap. This demonstrates the selectivity and specificity of the EpCAM aptamer. While this protocol is focused on the EpCAM aptamer, the protocol is applicable to other published aptamers.

A necessary step in anticancer aptamer development is to test its binding to the target. We demonstrate a flow cytometric-based assay to study this binding, emphasizing the importance of including a negative control aptamer and cancer cells that are positive or negative for that particular protein.&#160;

A key challenge in developing an anticancer aptamer is to efficiently determine the selectivity and specificity of the developed aptamer to the target ...

Cancer Research

High-Content Screening Assay for the Identification of Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Modifying Compounds

Immunotherapy with antigen-specific antibodies or immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the therapy of breast cancer. Breast cancer cells expressing the epidermal growth factor receptor HER2 can be targeted by the anti-HER-2 antibody trastuzumab. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) is an important mechanism implicated in the antitumor action of HER-2. Trastuzumab bound to cancer cells can be recognized by the Fc receptors of ADCC effector cells (e.g., natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, and granulocytes), triggering the cytotoxic activity of these immune cells leading to cancer cell death. We set out to develop an image-based assay for the quantification of ADCC to identify novel ADCC modulator compounds by high-content screening. In the assay, HER2 overexpressing JIMT-1 breast cancer cells are co-cultured with NK-92 cells in the presence of trastuzumab, and target cell death is quantified by automated microscopy and quantitative image analysis. Target cells are distinguished from effector cells based on their EGFP fluorescence. We show how compound libraries can be tested in the assay to identify ADCC modulator drugs. For this purpose, a compound library test plate was set up using randomly selected fine chemicals off the lab shelf. Three microtubule destabilizing compounds (colchicine, vincristine, podophyllotoxin) expected to interfere with NK cell migration and degranulation were also included in the test library. The test screen identified all three positive control compounds as hits proving the suitability of the method to identify ADCC-modifying drugs in a chemical library. With this assay, compound library screens can be performed to identify ADCC-enhancing compounds that could be used as adjuvant therapeutic agents for the treatment of patients receiving anticancer immunotherapies. In addition, the method can also be used to identify any undesirable ADCC-inhibiting side effects of therapeutic drugs taken by cancer patients for different indications.

This protocol presents an automated, image-based high-throughput technique to identify compounds modulating natural killer cell-mediated breast cancer cell killing in the presence of a therapeutic anti-HER-2 antibody.

Immunotherapy with antigen-specific antibodies or immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the therapy of breast cancer. Breast cancer cells ...

A Fluorescence-based Lymphocyte Assay Suitable for High-throughput Screening of Small Molecules

High-throughput screening (HTS) is currently the mainstay for the identification of chemical entities capable of modulating biochemical reactions or cellular processes. With the advancement of biotechnologies and the high translational potential of small molecules, a number of innovative approaches in drug discovery have evolved, which explains the resurgent interest in the use of HTS. The oncology field is currently the most active research area for drug screening, with no major breakthrough made for the identification of new immunomodulatory compounds targeting transplantation-related complications or autoimmune ailments. Here, we present a novel in vitro murine fluorescent-based lymphocyte assay easily adapted for the identification of new immunomodulatory compounds. This assay uses T or B cells derived from a transgenic mouse, in which the Nur77 promoter drives GFP expression upon T- or B-cell receptor stimulation. As the GFP intensity reflects the activation/transcriptional activity of the target cell, our assay defines a novel tool to study the effect of given compound(s) on cellular/biological responses. For instance, a primary screening was performed using 4,398 compounds in the absence of a &#34;target hypothesis&#34;, which led to the identification of 160 potential hits displaying immunomodulatory activities. Thus, the use of this assay is suitable for drug discovery programs exploring large chemical libraries prior to further in vitro/in vivo validation studies.

We present in the current study a novel fluorescence-based assay using lymphocytes derived from a transgenic mouse. This assay is suitable for high-throughput screening (HTS) of small molecules endowed with the capacity of either inhibiting or promoting lymphocyte activation.

High-throughput screening (HTS) is currently the mainstay for the identification of chemical entities capable of modulating biochemical reactions or ...

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries

The T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathway comprises a multitude of mediators that transmit signals upon the activation of the TCR. Different strategies have been proposed and implemented for the identification of new mediators of TCR signaling, which would improve the understanding of T-cell processes, including activation and thymic selection. We describe a screening assay that enables the identification of molecules that influence TCR signaling based on the activation of developing thymocytes. Strong TCR signals cause developing thymocytes to activate apoptotic machinery in a process known as negative selection. Through the application of kinase inhibitors, those with targets that affect TCR signaling are able to override the process of negative selection. The method detailed in this paper can be used to identify inhibitors of canonical kinases with established roles in the TCR signaling pathways and also inhibitors of new kinases yet to be established in the TCR signaling pathways. The screening strategy here can be applied to screens of higher throughput for the identification of novel druggable targets in TCR signaling.

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries

This paper uses a flow-cytometry-based assay to screen libraries of chemical inhibitors for the identification of inhibitors and their targets that influence T-cell receptor signaling. The methods described here can also be expanded for high-throughput screenings.

The T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathway comprises a multitude of mediators that transmit signals upon the activation of the TCR. Different strategies ...

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are of great importance to the pharmaceutical industry as they are involved in many human diseases and include well-validated targets for therapeutic intervention. Discovery of lead compounds, including small synthetic molecules, that specifically inhibit the receptor&#39;s function, is an important initial step in drug development and relies on sensitive, specific, and robust cell-based assays. Here, we describe a kinetic cellular assay with a fluorescent readout primarily designed to identify receptor-specific antagonists that inhibit the intracellular Ca2+ release evoked upon the activation of the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) by its endogenous ligand, the CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12). A key advantage of this method is that it also enables screening of compounds endowed with intrinsic agonistic properties (i.e., compounds eliciting an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the absence of CXCL12) or compounds modulating the receptor&#39;s function via interaction with allosteric binding sites (i.e., positive and negative allosteric modulators (PAMs and NAMs, respectively)). On the down side, autofluorescent compounds might interfere with the assay&#39;s readout, thereby hampering reliable data interpretation. Most likely this assay can be implemented, with minimal adaptations, as a generic drug discovery assay for many other GPCRs of which the activation leads to a release of intracellular Ca2+.

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators

The described cellular assay is designed for the identification of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)-interacting agents that inhibit or stimulate, either competitively or allosterically, the intracellular Ca2+ release initiated by CXCR4 activation.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are of great importance to the pharmaceutical industry as they are involved in many human diseases and include ...

Medicine

Screening of β2 Integrin Activation Inhibitors in Human Neutrophils

A Flow Cytometry-Based High-Throughput Technique for Screening Integrin-Inhibitory Drugs

This protocol aims to establish a method for identifying small molecular antagonists of &#946;2 integrin activation, utilizing conformational-change-reporting antibodies and high-throughput flow cytometry. The method can also serve as a guide for other antibody-based high-throughput screening methods. &#946;2 integrins are leukocyte-specific adhesion molecules that are crucial in immune responses. Neutrophils rely on integrin activation to exit the bloodstream, not only to fight infections but also to be involved in multiple inflammatory diseases. Controlling &#946;2 integrin activation presents a viable approach for treating neutrophil-associated inflammatory diseases. In this protocol, a monoclonal antibody, mAb24, which specifically binds to the high-affinity headpiece of &#946;2 integrins, is utilized to quantify &#946;2 integrin activation on isolated primary human neutrophils. N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) is used as a stimulus to activate neutrophil &#946;2 integrins. A high-throughput flow cytometer capable of automatically running 384-well plate samples was used in this study. The effects of 320 chemicals on &#946;2 integrin inhibition are assessed within 3 h. Molecules that directly target &#946;2 integrins or target molecules in the G protein-coupled receptor-initiated integrin inside-out activation signaling pathway can be identified through this approach.

Author Spotlight: Development of a Method for Identifying Small Molecular Antagonists of &#946;2 Integrin Activation 

This protocol describes a flow cytometry-based, high-throughput screening method to identify small-molecule drugs that inhibit &#946;2 integrin activation on human neutrophils.

This protocol aims to establish a method for identifying small molecular antagonists of &#946;2 integrin activation, utilizing ...

Isolation of CD4+ T-cells and Analysis of Circulating T-follicular Helper (cTfh) Cell Subsets from Peripheral Blood Using 6-color Flow Cytometry

Aberrant T-follicular helper (Tfh) cell activity is detectable in autoimmune conditions and their presence is associated with clinical outcomes when the lymph node microenvironment in B-cell non-Hodgkin&#39;s lymphoma is analyzed. Subsets of circulating T-follicular helper cells (cTfh), the circulating memory compartment of Tfh cells in the blood, are also perturbed in disease and therefore represent potential novel predictive biomarkers. Peripheral blood-based testing is advantageous because it is relatively non-invasive and allows simple serial monitoring.This article describes a method for isolating CD4+ T-cells from human blood, and further analysis by flow-cytometry to enumerate cTfh cells and the proportions of their various subsets (cTfhPD-1-/+/hi, cTfh1,2,17 and cTfh1/17). The level of these subsets was then compared between normal subjects and patients with lymphoma. We found that the method was robust enough to obtain reliable results from routinely collected patient material. The technique we describe for the analysis can be easily adapted to cell sorting and downstream applications such as RT-PCR.

Isolation of CD4+ T-cells and Analysis of Circulating T-follicular Helper cTfh Cell Subsets from Peripheral Blood Using 6-color Flow Cytometry

Here, a protocol for the isolation and characterization of CD4+ T-cell subsets from human peripheral blood is described. Purified CD4+ T-cells are analyzed by flow cytometry to determine proportions of T-follicular helper cell subsets.

Aberrant T-follicular helper (Tfh) cell activity is detectable in autoimmune conditions and their presence is associated with clinical outcomes when the ...

Competitive Binding Assay to Identify Compounds Disrupting Receptor-Ligand Interactions

Source: Schoofs, G., et al. <a href="https://app.jove.com/v/57271">A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2018).
In this video, we describe a flow cytometry-based competitive binding assay to detect the interactions between the CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 (CXCR4) and its fluorescently-labeled natural ligand CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12), in the presence of a CXCR4-targeting small molecule. Incubating CXCR4-expressing cells with lower small molecule concentrations allows CXCR4-CXCL12 binding to some extent, which progressively declines upon a gradual increase in small molecule concentrations.

Konkurencyjny test wiązania w celu identyfikacji związków zakłócających interakcje receptor-ligand

Source: Schoofs, G., et al. A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to ...

A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4

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Cell-based Flow Cytometry Assay to Measure Cytotoxic Activity

Rapid and Robust Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Polarization Induced by Chemokine Signaling

A Flow Cytometry-Based Cell Surface Protein Binding Assay for Assessing Selectivity and Specificity of an Anticancer Aptamer

High-Content Screening Assay for the Identification of Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Modifying Compounds

A Fluorescence-based Lymphocyte Assay Suitable for High-throughput Screening of Small Molecules

Identification of Mediators of T-cell Receptor Signaling via the Screening of Chemical Inhibitor Libraries

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca²⁺ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators

A Flow Cytometry-Based High-Throughput Technique for Screening Integrin-Inhibitory Drugs

Isolation of CD4⁺ T-cells and Analysis of Circulating T-follicular Helper (cTfh) Cell Subsets from Peripheral Blood Using 6-color Flow Cytometry

Konkurencyjny test wiązania w celu identyfikacji związków zakłócających interakcje receptor-ligand