Name: osteoclast derivation from mouse bone marrow
Uploaded: 2014-11-06T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow at JoVE.com

We acknowledge the support of NIH grants R01 DE021683, R01 DE019434, U01 HL099776, The Oak Foundation and The Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine.

NOTE: Ethical statement: All research involving vertebrate animals was performed in accordance protocols approved by the Stanford Administrative Panel on Laboratory Animal Care (APLAC).
1. Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Allow 10 ml of commercially available density gradient cell separation media (which contains polysucrose and sodium diatrizoate, adjusted to a density of 1.077 g/ml) to come to RT in a 50 ml conical tube.</li>
	<li>Prepare flow cytometry (FACS) buffer with 1x phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and 2% fetal c...

<ol>
	<li>Sims, N. A., Martin, T. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coupling+the+activities+of+bone+formation+and+resorption:+a+multitude+of+signals+within+the+basic+multicellular+unit.">Coupling the activities of bone formation and resorption: a multitude of signals within the basic multicellular unit.</a> BoneKEy reports. 3, 481 (2014).</li><li>Kahn, A. J., Simmons, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Investigation+of+cell+lineage+in+bone+using+a+chimaera+of+chick+and+quial+embryonic+tissue.">Investigation of cell lineage in bone using a chimaera of chick and quial embryonic tissue.</a> Nature. 258, 325-327 (1975).</li><li>Walker, D. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bone+resorption+restored+in+osteopetrotic+mice+by+transplants+of+normal+bone+marrow+and+spleen+cells.">Bone resorption restored in osteopetrotic mice by transplants of normal bone marrow and spleen cells.</a> Science. 190, 784-785 (1975).</li><li>Burger, E. H., 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=In+vitro+formation+of+osteoclasts+from+long-term+cultures+of+bone+marrow+mononuclear+phagocytes.">In vitro formation of osteoclasts from long-term cultures of bone marrow mononuclear phagocytes.</a> The Journal of experimental medicine. 156, 1604-1614 (1982).</li><li>Underwood, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=From+where+comes+the+osteoclast.">From where comes the osteoclast.</a> The Journal of pathology. 144, 225-226 (1984).</li><li>Lacey, D. L., 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=Bench+to+bedside:+elucidation+of+the+OPG-RANK-RANKL+pathway+and+the+development+of+denosumab.">Bench to bedside: elucidation of the OPG-RANK-RANKL pathway and the development of denosumab.</a> Nature reviews. Drug discovery. 11, 401-419 (2012).</li><li>Brown, J. E., Coleman, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Denosumab+in+patients+with+cancer-a+surgical+strike+against+the+osteoclast.">Denosumab in patients with cancer-a surgical strike against the osteoclast.</a> Nature reviews. Clinical oncology. 9, 110-118 (2012).</li><li>Khosla, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Minireview:+the+OPG/RANKL/RANK+system.">Minireview: the OPG/RANKL/RANK system.</a> Endocrinology. 142, 5050-5055 (2001).</li><li>Boyle, D. L., 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+roles+of+MAPK+kinases+MKK3+and+MKK6+in+osteoclastogenesis+and+bone+loss.">Differential roles of MAPK kinases MKK3 and MKK6 in osteoclastogenesis and bone loss.</a> PloS one. 9, (2014).</li><li>Hofbauer, L. C., Heufelder, A. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+receptor+activator+of+nuclear+factor-kappaB+ligand+and+osteoprotegerin+in+bone+cell+biology.">Role of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand and osteoprotegerin in bone cell biology.</a> Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany). 79, 243-253 (2001).</li><li>Teramachi, 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=Increased+IL-6+Expression+in+Osteoclasts+is+Necessary+but+not+Sufficient+for+the+Development+of+Paget's+Disease+of+Bone.">Increased IL-6 Expression in Osteoclasts is Necessary but not Sufficient for the Development of Paget's Disease of Bone.</a> Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. , (2013).</li><li>Catalfamo, D. L., 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=Hyperglycemia+induced+and+intrinsic+alterations+in+type+2+diabetes-derived+osteoclast+function.">Hyperglycemia induced and intrinsic alterations in type 2 diabetes-derived osteoclast function.</a> Oral diseases. 19, 303-312 (2013).</li><li>Schueler, 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=Intratibial+injection+of+human+multiple+myeloma+cells+in+NOD/SCID+IL-2Rgamma(null)+mice+mimics+human+myeloma+and+serves+as+a+valuable+tool+for+the+development+of+anticancer+strategies.">Intratibial injection of human multiple myeloma cells in NOD/SCID IL-2Rgamma(null) mice mimics human myeloma and serves as a valuable tool for the development of anticancer strategies.</a> PloS one. 8, (2013).</li><li>Xing, L., Boyce, B. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=RANKL-Based+Osteoclastogenic+Assays+from+Murine+Bone+Marrow+Cells.">RANKL-Based Osteoclastogenic Assays from Murine Bone Marrow Cells.</a> Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J). 1130, 307-313 (2014).</li><li>Weischenfeldt, J., Porse, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bone+Marrow-Derived+Macrophages+(BMM):+Isolation+and+Applications.">Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages (BMM): Isolation and Applications.</a> CSH protocols. , (2008).</li><li>Yamamoto, Y., 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=Osteoblasts+provide+a+suitable+microenvironment+for+the+action+of+receptor+activator+of+nuclear+factor-kappaB+ligand.">Osteoblasts provide a suitable microenvironment for the action of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand.</a> Endocrinology. 147, 3366-3374 (2006).</li><li>Yasuda, H., 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=Osteoclast+differentiation+factor+is+a+ligand+for+osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis-inhibitory+factor+and+is+identical+to+TRANCE/RANKL.">Osteoclast differentiation factor is a ligand for osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis-inhibitory factor and is identical to TRANCE/RANKL.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 95, 3597-3602 (1998).</li><li>Lacey, D. L., 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=Osteoprotegerin+ligand+is+a+cytokine+that+regulates+osteoclast+differentiation+and+activation.">Osteoprotegerin ligand is a cytokine that regulates osteoclast differentiation and activation.</a> Cell. 93, 165-176 (1998).</li><li>Teitelbaum, S. L., Ross, F. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+regulation+of+osteoclast+development+and+function.">Genetic regulation of osteoclast development and function.</a> Nature reviews. Genetics. 4, 638-649 (2003).</li><li>Agas, D., Sabbieti, M. G., Marchetti, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Endocrine+disruptors+and+bone+metabolism.">Endocrine disruptors and bone metabolism.</a> Archives of toxicology. 87, 735-751 (2013).</li><li>Manolagas, S. C., O'Brien, C. A., Almeida, M. <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+estrogen+and+androgen+receptors+in+bone+health+and+disease.">The role of estrogen and androgen receptors in bone health and disease.</a> Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 9, 699-712 (2013).</li><li>Martin, T. J., Udagawa, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hormonal+regulation+of+osteoclast+function.">Hormonal regulation of osteoclast function.</a> Trends in endocrinology and metabolism. 9, 6-12 (1998).</li><li>Nakamura, T., 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=Estrogen+prevents+bone+loss+via+estrogen+receptor+alpha+and+induction+of+Fas+ligand+in+osteoclasts.">Estrogen prevents bone loss via estrogen receptor alpha and induction of Fas ligand in osteoclasts.</a> Cell. 130, 811-823 (2007).</li><li>Bellido, T., 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=Regulation+of+interleukin-6,+osteoclastogenesis,+and+bone+mass+by+androgens.+The+role+of+the+androgen+receptor.">Regulation of interleukin-6, osteoclastogenesis, and bone mass by androgens. The role of the androgen receptor.</a> The Journal of clinical investigation. 95, 2886-2895 (1995).</li><li>Roato, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Interaction+among+cells+of+bone,+immune+system,+and+solid+tumors+leads+to+bone+metastases.">Interaction among cells of bone, immune system, and solid tumors leads to bone metastases.</a> Clinica., &amp; developmental immunology. 2013, (2013).</li><li>Autio, K. A., Morris, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Targeting+bone+physiology+for+the+treatment+of+metastatic+prostate+cancer.">Targeting bone physiology for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.</a> Clinical advances in hematolog., &amp; oncology. 11, 134-143 (2013).</li><li>Sottnik, J. L., Keller, E. 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An ability to easily isolate and cultivate large numbers of osteoclasts in vitro has been responsible for helping to advance understanding of bone biology and osteoclast-mediated diseases. It was the identification of RANKL that lead to this, when it was recently identified as the major regulator of osteoclast formation, differentiation and survival16-18.
It has been our experience that the in vitro cultivation of osteoclasts from bone marrow is largely dependent o...

Bone remodeling is dynamic and involves the coupling of bone formation with bone resorption1. This tightly regulated process is responsible for maintaining the skeleton during normal homeostasis, and in response to injury and disease.
Osteoclasts are unique, multinucleated cells that are capable of resorbing both the organic and inorganic matrices of bone. Osteoclasts are derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage of the bone marrow2-5. Abnormalities in the function or formation of osteoclasts can result in a variety of clinical pathologies, including common conditions like osteoporosis.
The ability to generate osteoclasts in vitro has allowed for significant advances in our understanding of bone biology6. As a result, new therapeutic agents are emerging to treat osteoclast-related diseases which are responsible for significant morbidities and mortalities7. Homeostatic maintenance of bone mass and strength requires the concerted action of bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts8,9. Bone homeostasis is altered in a number of diseases, including post-menopausal osteoporosis, in which increased osteoclast activity leads to pathogenic loss of bone mass and density10. With increasing availability of transgenic murine models of human disease, there is more opportunity to decipher the role of the osteoclasts in human bone disease11-13.
Numerous protocols for osteoclast culturing techniques appear in the literature, with many variations described9,12,14. Xing and colleagues describe similar methodology to the protocol described below, in their description of osteoclastogenic assays from murine bone marrow cells. However to release the bone marrow cells following long bone harvest, Xing et al. flush the marrow cavity with &#945;-MEM complete media14. Catalfamo examines the effect of hyperglycemia on osteoclast function and describes a method in which all cells mobilized by bone marrow flushing are cultured for 24 hr, at which point the non-adherent cells are discarded12, a technique also used by Boyle et al.9 These previously published protocols necessitate the practice of flushing the bone marrow, a tedious practice, which also introduces the risk of a needle stick injury and loss of valuable bone marrow, as one must cut both ends of the bone. The protocol, which we describe, implements the use of a mortar and pestle to isolate osteoclasts, which is similar to the method of macrophage isolation described by Weischenfeldt et al.15 
Our experience, however, is that osteoclast isolation and in vitro culture using previously published techniques results in variable outcomes in terms of osteoclast production, often resulting in an inability to cultivate osteoclasts. Therefore, we have devised a protocol that allows for the consistent isolation of mouse bone marrow to produce large numbers of multinucleated osteoclasts in vitro, with an approximate yield of 70-80% of cells initially plated forming macrophages and subsequently osteoclasts, in the presence of osteoclast induction media.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1017">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:503px;">Name of the Material/Equipment</td>
			<td style="width:165px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Comments/Description</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MEM, no glutamine, no phenol red</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>51200-038</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">M-CSF, recombinant mouse</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>PMC2044</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Recombinant Mouse TRANCE/RANK L/TNFSF11 (E. coli expressed)</td>
			<td>R&#38;D Systems</td>
			<td>462-TEC-010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Prostaglandin E2</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Histopaque-1077</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>10771</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Acid Phosphatase, Lekocyte (TRAP) kit</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>387A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Osteoassay bone resorption plates, 24 well plates</td>
			<td>Corning Life Sciences</td>
			<td>3987</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

osteoclast derivation from mouse bone marrow

Osteoclasts are highly specialized cells that are derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage of the bone marrow. Their unique ability to resorb both the organic and inorganic matrices of bone means that they play a key role in regulating skeletal remodeling. Together, osteoblasts and osteoclasts are responsible for the dynamic coupling process that involves both bone resorption and bone formation acting together to maintain the normal skeleton during health and disease.
As the principal bone-resorbing cell in the body, changes in osteoclast differentiation or function can result in profound effects in the body. Diseases associated with altered osteoclast function can range in severity from lethal neonatal disease due to failure to form a marrow space for hematopoiesis, to more commonly observed pathologies such as osteoporosis, in which excessive osteoclastic bone resorption predisposes to fracture formation.
An ability to isolate osteoclasts in high numbers in vitro has allowed for significant advances in the understanding of the bone remodeling cycle and has paved the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies that combat these diseases. 
Here, we describe a protocol to isolate and cultivate osteoclasts from mouse bone marrow that will yield large numbers of osteoclasts.

The aim of this method was to easily isolate large numbers of osteoclasts in vitro, typically in one week. Successful isolation of large numbers of osteoclasts was confirmed using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining (Figure 1A). Large osteoclasts are visualized as large purple cells with multiple nuclei (typically &#8805; 3 nuclei). Using this protocol, it is common to isolate osteoclasts with as many as 30 nuclei per osteoclast (Figure 1B).
...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow at JoVE.com

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

Osteoclasts are the principal bone-resorbing cell in the body. An ability to isolate osteoclasts in large numbers has resulted in significant advances in the understanding of osteoclast biology. In this protocol, we describe a method for isolation, cultivating and quantifying osteoclast activity in vitro.

Osteoclasts are highly specialized cells that are derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage of the bone marrow. Their unique ability to resorb both the ...

osteoclast-derivation-from-mouse-bone-marrow

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Fibroblast Transformation and Muscle Stem Cells

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Derivation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Murine Embryonic Stem Cells

A stem cell is defined as a cell with the capacity to both self-renew and generate multiple differentiated progeny.  Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are derived from the blastocyst of the early embryo and are pluripotent in differentiative ability.  Their vast differentiative potential has made them the focus of much research centered on deducing how to coax them to generate clinically useful cell types.  The successful derivation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from mouse ESC has recently been accomplished and can be visualized in this video protocol.  HSC, arguably the most clinically exploited cell population, are used to treat a myriad of hematopoietic malignancies and disorders.  However, many patients that might benefit from HSC therapy lack access to suitable donors.  ESC could provide an alternative source of HSC for these patients.  The following protocol establishes a baseline from which ESC-HSC can be studied and inform efforts to isolate HSC from human ESC.  In this protocol, ESC are differentiated as embryoid bodies (EBs) for 6 days in commercially available serum pre-screened for optimal hematopoietic differentiation.  EBs are then dissociated and infected with retroviral HoxB4.  Infected EB-derived cells are plated on OP9 stroma, a bone marrow stromal cell line derived from the calvaria of  M-CSF-/- mice, and co-cultured in the presence of hematopoiesis promoting cytokines for ten days.  During this co-culture, the infected cells expand greatly, resulting in the generation a heterogeneous pool of 100s of millions of cells.  These cells can then be used to rescue and reconstitute lethally irradiated mice.

This protocol details the derivation of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) and their subsequent injection into lethally irradiated recipient mice. Briefly, ESC are differentiated as embryoid bodies, which are then infected with retroviral HoxB4 and co-cultured with OP9 stromal cells and hematopoietic cytokines.

A stem cell is defined as a cell with the capacity to both self-renew and generate multiple differentiated progeny.  Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are ...

Culture of myeloid dendritic cells from bone marrow precursors

Myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) are frequently used to study the interactions between innate and adaptive immune mechanisms and the early response to infection. Because these are the most potent antigen presenting cells, DCs are being increasingly used as a vaccine vector to study the induction of antigen-specific immune responses. In this video, we demonstrate the procedure for harvesting tibias and femurs from a donor mouse, processing the bone marrow and differentiating DCs in vitro. The properties of DCs change following stimulation: immature dendritic cells are potent phagocytes, whereas mature DCs are capable of antigen presentation and interaction with CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. This change in functional activity corresponds with the upregulation of cell surface markers and cytokine production. Many agents can be used to mature DCs, including cytokines and toll-like receptor ligands. In this video, we demonstrate flow cytometric comparisons of expression of two co-stimulatory molecules, CD86 and CD40, and the cytokine, IL-12, following overnight stimulation with CpG or mock treatment. After differentiation, DCs can be further manipulated for use as a vaccine vector or to generate antigen-specific immune responses by in vitro pulsing using peptides or proteins, or transduced using recombinant viral vectors. 

This video demonstrates the procedure for differentiating myeloid dendritic cells from mouse bone marrow. Isolation of mouse tibia and femur, and processing of bone marrow are demonstrated. Pictures demonstrating cell morphology before and after differentiation, and figures depicting cell phenotype and IL-12 production following maturation using CpG are shown.

Myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) are frequently used to study the interactions between innate and adaptive immune mechanisms and the early response to ...

The Preparation of Primary Hematopoietic Cell Cultures From Murine Bone Marrow for Electroporation

It is becoming increasingly apparent that electroporation is the most effective way to introduce plasmid DNA or siRNA into primary cells. The Gene Pulser MXcell  electroporation system and Gene Pulser  electroporation buffer were specifically developed to transfect nucleic acids into mammalian cells and difficult-to-transfect cells, such as primary and stem cells.This video demonstrates how to establish primary hematopoietic cell cultures from murine bone marrow, and then prepare them for electroporation in the MXcell system. We begin by isolating femur and tibia. Bone marrow from both femur and tibia are then harvested and cultures are established. Cultured bone marrow cells are then transfected and analyzed.

This procedure describes how to establish primary hematopoietic cell cultures from murine bone marrow and is followed by transfection using the Gene Pulser MXCell electroporation system.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that electroporation is the most effective way to introduce plasmid DNA or siRNA into primary cells. The Gene Pulser ...

Homing of Hematopoietic Cells to the Bone Marrow

Homing is the phenomenon whereby transplanted hematopoietic cells are able to travel to and engraft or establish residence in the bone marrow. Various chemomkines and receptors are involved in the homing of hematopoietic stem cells. [1, 2]
This paper outlines the classic homing protocol used in hematopoietic stem cell studies. In general this involves isolating the cell population whose homing needs to be investigated, staining this population with a dye of interest and injecting these cells into the blood stream of a recipient animal. The recipient animal is then sacrificed at a pre-determined time after injection and the bone marrow evaluated for the percentage or absolute number of cells which are positive for the dye of interest. In one of the most common experimental schemes, the homing efficiency of hematopoietic cells from two genetically distinct animals (a wild type animal and the corresponding knock-out) is compared. This article describes the hematopoietic cell homing protocol in the framework of such as experiment.

This article describes a protocol used to study the homing of hematopoietic cells to their niches in the bone marrow.

Homing is the phenomenon whereby transplanted hematopoietic cells are able to travel to and engraft or establish residence in the bone marrow.  Various ...

Isolation and Derivation of Mouse Embryonic Germinal Cells

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

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

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

Derivation of Mouse Trophoblast Stem Cells from Blastocysts

Specification of the trophectoderm is one of the earliest differentiation events of mammalian development. The trophoblast lineage derived from the trophectoderm mediates implantation and generates the fetal part of the placenta. As a result, the development of this lineage is essential for embryo survival. Derivation of trophoblast stem (TS) cells from mouse blastocysts was first described by Tanaka et al. 1998. The ability of TS cells to preserve the trophoblast specific property and their expression of stage- and cell type-specific markers after proper stimulation provides a valuable model system to investigate trophoblast lineage development whereby recapitulating early placentation events. Furthermore, trophoblast cells are one of the few somatic cell types undergoing natural genome amplification. Although the molecular pathways underlying trophoblast polyploidization have begun to unravel, the physiological role and advantage of trophoblast genome amplification remains largely elusive. The development of diploid stem cells into polyploid trophoblast cells in culture makes this ex vivo system an excellent tool for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of genome replication and instability in health and disease. Here we describe a protocol based on previous reports with modification published in Chiu et al. 2008.

In this video, we demonstrate the isolation of mouse blastocysts and the derivation of trophoblast stem cells from blastocysts. We also describe conditions for maintenance of the stem cell property as well as induction of differentiation in culture.

Specification of the trophectoderm is one of the earliest differentiation events of mammalian development. The trophoblast lineage derived from the ...

Generation of Mice Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells provides a means to create valuable tools for basic research and may also produce a source of patient-matched cells for regenerative therapies. iPSCs may be generated using multiple protocols and derived from multiple cell sources. Once generated, iPSCs are tested using a variety of assays including immunostaining for pluripotency markers, generation of three germ layers in embryoid bodies and teratomas, comparisons of gene expression with embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and production of chimeric mice with or without germline contribution2. Importantly, iPSC lines that pass these tests still vary in their capacity to produce different differentiated cell types2. This has made it difficult to establish which iPSC derivation protocols, donor cell sources or selection methods are most useful for different applications.
The most stringent test of whether a stem cell line has sufficient developmental potential to generate all tissues required for survival of an organism (termed full pluripotency) is tetraploid embryo complementation (TEC)3-5. Technically, TEC involves electrofusion of two-cell embryos to generate tetraploid (4n) one-cell embryos that can be cultured in vitro to the blastocyst stage6. Diploid (2n) pluripotent stem cells (e.g. ESCs or iPSCs) are then injected into the blastocoel cavity of the tetraploid blastocyst and transferred to a recipient female for gestation (see Figure 1). The tetraploid component of the complemented embryo contributes almost exclusively to the extraembryonic tissues (placenta, yolk sac), whereas the diploid cells constitute the embryo proper, resulting in a fetus derived entirely from the injected stem cell line.
Recently, we reported the derivation of iPSC lines that reproducibly generate adult mice via TEC1. These iPSC lines give rise to viable pups with efficiencies of 5-13%, which is comparable to ESCs3,4,7 and higher than that reported for most other iPSC lines8-12. These reports show that direct reprogramming can produce fully pluripotent iPSCs that match ESCs in their developmental potential and efficiency of generating pups in TEC tests. At present, it is not clear what distinguishes between fully pluripotent iPSCs and less potent lines13-15. Nor is it clear which reprogramming methods will produce these lines with the highest efficiency. Here we describe one method that produces fully pluripotent iPSCs and "all- iPSC" mice, which may be helpful for investigators wishing to compare the pluripotency of iPSC lines or establish the equivalence of different reprogramming methods.

Generating induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines produces lines of differing developmental potential even when they pass standard tests for pluripotency. Here we describe a protocol to produce mice derived entirely from iPSCs, which defines the iPSC lines as possessing full pluripotency1.

The production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells provides a means to create valuable tools for basic research and may also ...

In Vivo 4-Dimensional Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adult Mouse Calvarial Bone Marrow

Through a delicate balance between quiescence and proliferation, self renewal and production of differentiated progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain the turnover of all mature blood cell lineages. The coordination of the complex signals leading to specific HSC fates relies upon the interaction between HSCs and the intricate bone marrow microenvironment, which is still poorly understood[1-2].
We describe how by combining a newly developed specimen holder for stable animal positioning with multi-step confocal and two-photon in vivo imaging techniques, it is possible to obtain high-resolution 3D stacks containing HSPCs and their surrounding niches and to monitor them over time through multi-point time-lapse imaging. High definition imaging allows detecting ex vivo labeled hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) residing within the bone marrow. Moreover, multi-point time-lapse 3D imaging, obtained with faster acquisition settings, provides accurate information about HSPC movement and the reciprocal interactions between HSPCs and stroma cells.
Tracking of HSPCs in relation to GFP positive osteoblastic cells is shown as an exemplary application of this method. This technique can be utilized to track any appropriately labeled hematopoietic or stromal cell of interest within the mouse calvarium bone marrow space.

In Vivo 4-Dimensional Tracking of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Adult Mouse Calvarial Bone Marrow

The nature of the interactions between hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and bone marrow niches is poorly understood. Custom hardware modifications and a multi-step acquisition protocol allow the use of two-photon and confocal microscopy to image ex vivo labeled HSPCs homed within bone marrow areas, tracking interactions and movement.

Through a delicate balance between quiescence and proliferation, self renewal and production of differentiated progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) ...

Isolation, Purification, and Differentiation of Osteoclast Precursors from Rat Bone Marrow

Osteoclasts are large, multinucleated, and bone-resorbing cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage that are formed by the fusion of monocytes or macrophage precursors. Excessive bone resorption is one the most significant cellular mechanisms leading to osteolytic diseases, including osteoporosis, periodontitis, and periprosthetic osteolysis. The main physiological function of osteoclasts is to absorb both the hydroxyapatite mineral component and the organic matrix of bone, generating the characteristic resorption appearance on the surface of bones. There are relatively few osteoclasts compared to other cells in the body, especially in adult bones. Recent studies have focused on how to obtain more mature osteoclasts in less time, which has always been a problem. Several improvements in the isolation and culture techniques have developed in laboratories in order to obtain more mature osteoclasts. Here, we introduce a method that isolates bone marrow in less time and with less effort compared to the traditional procedure, using a special and simple device. With the use of density gradient centrifugation, we obtain large amounts of fully differentiated osteoclasts from rat bone marrow, which are identified by classical methods.

Osteoclasts are tissue-specific macrophage polykaryons derived from the monocyte-macrophage lineage of hematopoietic stem cells. This protocol describes how to isolate bone marrow cells so that large quantities of osteoclasts are obtained while reducing the risk of accidents found in traditional methods.

Osteoclasts are large, multinucleated, and bone-resorbing cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage that are formed by the fusion of monocytes or ...

Proplatelet Formation Dynamics of Mouse Fresh Bone Marrow Explants

The last stage of megakaryopoiesis leads to cytoplasmic extensions from mature megakaryocytes, the so-called proplatelets. Much has been learned about the proplatelet formation using in vitro-differentiated megakaryocytes; however, there is an increasing evidence that conventional culture systems do not faithfully recapitulate the differentiation/maturation process that takes places inside the bone marrow. In this manuscript, we present an explant method initially described in 1956 by Thi&#233;ry and Bessis to visualize megakaryocytes which have matured in their native environment, thus circumventing potential artifacts and misinterpretations. Fresh bone marrows are collected by flushing the femurs of mice, sliced into 0.5 mm cross sections, and placed in an incubation chamber at 37 &#176;C containing a physiological buffer. Megakaryocytes become gradually visible at the explant periphery and are observed up to 6 hours under an inverted microscope coupled to a video camera. Over time, megakaryocytes change their shape, with some cells having a spherical form and others developing thick extensions or extending many thin proplatelets with extensive branching. Both qualitative and quantitative investigations are carried out. This method has the advantage of being simple, reproducible, and fast as numerous megakaryocytes are present, and classically half of them form proplatelets in 6 hours compared to 4 days for cultured mouse megakaryocytes. In addition to the study of mutant mice, an interesting application of this method is the straightforward evaluation of the pharmacological agents on the proplatelet extension process, without interfering with the differentiation process that may occur in cultures.

Here, we detail the bone marrow explant method, from sample preparation to microscopic slide analysis, to evaluate the ability of megakaryocytes which have differentiated in their physiological environment to form proplatelets.

The last stage of megakaryopoiesis leads to cytoplasmic extensions from mature megakaryocytes, the so-called proplatelets. Much has been learned about the ...