Name: single-cell microinjection for cell communication analysis
Uploaded: 2017-02-26T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Single-cell Microinjection for Cell Communication Analysis at JoVE.com

The authors dedicate this paper in honor of Prof. Gilberto Oliveira-Castro who introduced research in intercellular communication by gap junctions in Brazil. This work was funded by Capes, CNPQ and Faperj.

1. Preparation of Cells
<ol>
	<li>Maintain a culture of a thymic epithelial cell line (IT76M1) or cell to be tested in an incubator (37&#176;C/5% CO2).</li>
	<li>Wash the cells with PBS 1x (repeat this item 3x).</li>
	<li>Add Trypsin to the cells for 5 min.</li>
	<li>Add medium (twice of the volume of trypsin added in item 1.3) with 10% FBS (fetal bovine serum) to the cells with trypsin and centrifuge (800 x g for 5 min).</li>
	<li>Count the cells in a hemocytometer.</li>
	<li>Adjust the density of cells acc...

<ol>
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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=Are+there+functional+gap+junctions+or+junctional+hemichannels+in+macrophages?.">Are there functional gap junctions or junctional hemichannels in macrophages?.</a> Blood. 88 (1), 328-334 (1996).</li><li>Fonseca, P. C., 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=Characterization+of+connexin+30.3+and+43+in+thymocytes.">Characterization of connexin 30.3 and 43 in thymocytes.</a> Immunology letters. 94 (1-2), 65-75 (2004).</li><li>Nihei, O. K., 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=Modulatory+effects+of+cAMP+and+PKC+activation+on+gap+junctional+intercellular+communication+among+thymic+epithelial+cells.">Modulatory effects of cAMP and PKC activation on gap junctional intercellular communication among thymic epithelial cells.</a> BMC Cell Biol. 11, 3 (2010).</li><li>Czyz, J., Szpak, K., Madeja, Z. <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+connexins+in+prostate+cancer+promotion+and+progression.">The role of connexins in prostate cancer promotion and progression.</a> Nat Rev Urol. 9 (5), 274-282 (2012).</li><li>El-Saghir, J. A., El-Habre, E. T., El-Sabban, M. E., Talhouk, R. 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L., Nedergaard, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Brain+connexins+in+demyelinating+diseases:+therapeutic+potential+of+glial+targets.">Brain connexins in demyelinating diseases: therapeutic potential of glial targets.</a> Brain Res. 1487, 61-68 (2012).</li><li>Park, H. a. n. -. A., R, S., Khanna, S. a. v. i. t. a., Sen, C. h. a. n. d. a. n. . K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Current+Technologies+in+Single-Cell+Microinjection+and+Application+to+Study+Signal+Transduction.">Current Technologies in Single-Cell Microinjection and Application to Study Signal Transduction.</a> Methods in Redox Signaling. , (2010).</li><li>Abbaci, M., Barberi-Heyob, M., Blondel, W., Guillemin, F., Didelon, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advantages+and+limitations+of+commonly+used+methods+to+assay+the+molecular+permeability+of+gap+junctional+intercellular+communication.">Advantages and limitations of commonly used methods to assay the molecular permeability of gap junctional intercellular communication.</a> Biotechniques. 45 (1), 33-52 (2008).</li><li>Stewart, W. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functional+connections+between+cells+as+revealed+by+dye-coupling+with+a+highly+fluorescent+naphthalimide+tracer.">Functional connections between cells as revealed by dye-coupling with a highly fluorescent naphthalimide tracer.</a> Cell. 14 (3), 741-759 (1978).</li><li>Meda, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Probing+the+function+of+connexin+channels+in+primary+tissues.">Probing the function of connexin channels in primary tissues.</a> Methods. 20 (2), 232-244 (2000).</li><li>Klaunig, J. E., Shi, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessment+of+gap+junctional+intercellular+communication.">Assessment of gap junctional intercellular communication.</a> Curr Protoc Toxicol. , (2009).</li><li>Hanani, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lucifer+yellow+-+an+angel+rather+than+the+devil.">Lucifer yellow - an angel rather than the devil.</a> J Cell Mol Med. 16 (1), 22-31 (2012).</li><li>Orci, L., Biochemistry, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Blockage+of+Cell-to-Cell+Communication+within+Pancreatic+Acini+Is+Associated+with+Increased+Basal+Release+of+Amylase+Materials+and+Methods+Preparation+of+Acini.">Blockage of Cell-to-Cell Communication within Pancreatic Acini Is Associated with Increased Basal Release of Amylase Materials and Methods Preparation of Acini.</a> Cell. 103 (August), 475-483 (1986).</li><li>Hitomi, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+connexin+function+enhances+self-renewal+in+glioblastoma.">Differential connexin function enhances self-renewal in glioblastoma.</a> Cell Rep. 11 (7), 1031-1042 (2015).</li><li>Nihei, O. 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In order to verify the presence of functional intercellular gap junction, the use of tracers, which are membrane impermeable, although permeable by intercellular channels are required16. Fluorescein, the first fluorescent dye to observe cell-to-cell coupling22, is permeable between non junctional membranes3 and has therefore been substituted by Lucifer Yellow dye15. Currently, to find the best choice among the many different t...

Gap junctions are intercellular channels that allow the intercommunication among neighboring cells1. This communication connects two or more neighboring cells, where each one contributes with a connexon or hemichannel to form the intercellular channel. In mammalian cells, the connexon is formed by six connexins, monomers with four transmembrane domains and a C and N terminal within the cytoplasm2. Gap junctions not only permit the flow of ions, second messengers and small metabolites, but also contribute to many forms of cellular communication in many physiological processes, such as synaptic transmission, heart contraction, cell growth and differentiation3,4,5,6,7,8. In addition gap junctions have been associated with many diseases including cancer9,10, muscular atrophy11, some genetic diseases and demyelinating diseases12.
This type of intercellular crosstalk can be evaluated by several methods13,14,15,16. In this paper, we show how to perform a single-cell microinjection of Lucifer Yellow to visualize cellular communication via gap-junctions in living cells. We discuss how to prepare the cells and the micropipette, the usage of the micromanipulator and the injection of Lucifer Yellow dye in a thymic epithelial cell line. Usually, this experimental procedure could be analyzed by the average of connected cells to the cell loaded with dye. In addition, this method could be used with other fluorescent dyes with molecular weight below the gap junctions cut-off which is approximately 1,000 daltons.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1228">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:195px;">Lucifer yellow</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">L0259</td>
			<td style="width:827px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:195px;">Lithium Chloride</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">L4408</td>
			<td style="width:827px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:195px;">PBS tablets</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Sigma&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">P4417</td>
			<td style="width:827px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:195px;">RPMI</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">R4130</td>
			<td style="width:827px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:195px;">Bovine fetal serum</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Cultilab</td>
			<td style="width:137px;"></td>
			<td style="width:827px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:195px;">Trypsin</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">T4799</td>
			<td style="width:827px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Nikon</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">TE-2000</td>
			<td>For microinjection experiments, one needs an inverted fluorescence microscope and &#64257;lters for &#64258;uorescent microscopy</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">vibration-insulated table&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Newport</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">VH3036W-OPT</td>
			<td>A vibration-insulated table is needed to protect the experiments from vibration and avoid cell damage</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Micromanipulator</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Narishige</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">MMO-203</td>
			<td>This equipment allows precision adjustments of the micropipette, which is needed for cell micro injection.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="100">
			<td height="100" style="height:100px;">Current Generator&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:71px;">Digitimer</td>
			<td style="width:137px;">DS2</td>
			<td>To produce the dye flow through the micropipette, a current below one nano ampere was given using a current generator with an electrode inside the micropipette or an amplifier which has a capacitance compensation circuit (old electrometer) or current injection functions of new patch clamp amplifiers, and the ground wire submersed in the plate dish. Alternatively, the dye can be injected by a pneumatic microinjector, following the factory recommendations.&#160;&#160;&#160;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

single-cell microinjection for cell communication analysis

Gap junctions are intercellular channels that allow the communication of neighboring cells. This communication depends on the contribution of a hemichannel by each neighboring cell to form the gap junction. In mammalian cells, the hemichannel is formed by six connexins, monomers with four transmembrane domains and a C and N terminal within the cytoplasm. Gap junctions permit the exchange of ions, second messengers, and small metabolites. In addition, they have important roles in many forms of cellular communication within physiological processes such as synaptic transmission, heart contraction, cell growth and differentiation. We detail how to perform a single-cell microinjection of Lucifer Yellow to visualize cellular communication via gap-junctions in living cells. It is expected that in functional gap junctions, the dye will diffuse from the loaded cell to the connected cells. It is a very useful technique to study gap junctions since you can evaluate the diffusion of the fluorescence in real time. We discuss how to prepare the cells and the micropipette, how to use a micromanipulator and inject a low molecular weight fluorescent dye in an epithelial cell line.

Thymic epithelial cell line IT-76MI were used to evaluate dye coupling by gap junctions as these cells were described to express functional gap junctions formed by connexin 4321. Figure 1 shows the injection of Lucifer Yellow when applied in the one cell below the tip of the pipette. After few minutes, connected cells become fluorescent (asterisks) indicating the diffusion of the fluorescent dye through the gap junctions. The number of cells and time to became fluo...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Single-cell Microinjection for Cell Communication Analysis at JoVE.com

Single-cell Microinjection for Cell Communication Analysis

We describe here how to perform a single-cell microinjection of Lucifer Yellow to visualize cellular communication via gap-junctions in living cells, and provide some useful tips. We expect that this paper will help everyone to evaluate the degree of cellular coupling due to functional gap junctions. Everything described here could be, in principle, adapted to other fluorescent dyes with molecular weight below 1,000 Daltons.

Gap junctions are intercellular channels that allow the communication of neighboring cells. This communication depends on the contribution of a ...

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