This work was supported by funding received from the National Institutes of Health (1R01AI083269).

Os estudos de murino foram aprovados pelo cuidado e uso Comitê Institucional Animal (IACUC) da Universidade de North Carolina em Chapel Hill e todos os cuidados com os animais estava em conformidade com as orientações IACUC. 1. Preparação do recém-nascido e Adulto Thymi <ol><li> Prepare todos os reagentes e equipamentos antes da eutanásia de ratos doadores. </li><li> Esterilizar instrumentos cirúrgicos por autoclavagem ou outros métodos apropriados. Todos os procedimentos cirúrgicos devem ser realizados sob uma câmara de fluxo laminar, para manter as condições estéreis e evitar a contaminação. Monte as ferramentas necessárias para a extração de thymi de camundongos doadores. </li><li> Encha um prato de 60 milímetros com estéril 1x PBS (pH 7,4) e colocar no gelo no interior do exaustor. Isto será usado para armazenar brevemente timos excisado a partir de ratinhos dadores antes do transplante. </li><li> De acordo com as orientações éticas, sacrificar os ratinhos dadores recém-nascidos e adultos por decapitação ratos doadores por asfixia com CO2, seguido por deslocação cervical. </li><li> Para removal do timo: Coloque o mouse em uma posição de decúbito dorsal sobre uma toalha de papel absorvente estéril e spray com etanol 70% antes de fazer uma incisão. </li><li> Expor a cavidade torácica e abdominal, fazendo uma incisão na linha média através da pele. Dobrar a pele sobre o peito e os membros anteriores para revelar a cavidade torácica. </li><li> Faça duas incisões laterais através do diafragma e da caixa torácica para expor o mediastino superior e anterior cavidade torácica. O timo deve ser visível como dois lóbulos branco imediatamente acima e adjacente ao coração. </li><li> Desmembrar o tecido conjuntivo em torno do timo com uma pinça fina, tornando certas para não perturbar a cápsula. Embora retendo o tórax com uma pinça, utilizar um segundo par de fórceps para extrair os dois lóbulos do timo posicionando pinças curvas por baixo do órgão e puxando verticalmente. Isto pode ser feito usando um escopo de dissecação para a extracção de timos de ratos recém-nascidos. </li><li> Inserir o timo no 60 milímetros dish estéril contendo 1x PBS (pH 7,4) em gelo e lóbulos tímicos separadas por corte através do istmo conjuntivo. Remover todos os detritos dos lobos do timo tornando certas para não danificar a cápsula, e cortar o timo para o número adequado de secções para transplante. </li><li> Não manipular o thymi obtidos a partir de ratos recém-nascidos. NOTA: Usado para um máximo de dois ratinhos receptores (1 lobo por beneficiário). </li><li> Transplantar a thymi obtidos a partir de ratos adultos, até um máximo de 4-6 ratinhos receptores. Utilizando um par de pinças, cuidadosamente compreender um adulto lóbulo do timo, como mostrado na Figura 1, o corte timo em três partes iguais, usando tesouras cirúrgicas. </li><li> Repita os passos de 1,3-1,4 para cada camundongo doador. A fim de limitar o tempo timos estão expostos, preparar um doador de timo de cada vez. </li></ol> 2. Thymus implantação sob a cápsula renal <ol><li> Montagem do equipamento de pré-esterilizado listados na Tabela 1. Assépticastécnica deve ser utilizada durante o decurso do processo, para prevenir a exposição a receptores de transplantes-ferramentas ou reagentes contaminados. </li><li> Antes do transplante, pesar e etiquetar cada rato destinatário. </li><li> Configure o microscópio de dissecação e circuito de anestesia na capela de fluxo laminar. </li><li> Usando um barbeador elétrico, raspar o lado esquerdo do mouse destinatário e garantir que não haja cabelo permanece ao redor da área usada para fazer a incisão. </li><li> Ligue vaporizador isofluorano e anestesiar o rato usando uma dose de entre 1-2%. Verificar anesthetization adequada antes de iniciar o procedimento cirúrgico através da verificação de uma ausência de reflexo seguinte toe pitada. </li><li> Após o mouse está devidamente anestesiados, aplique pomada veterinária aos olhos do mouse para prevenir o ressecamento e preparar o mouse para o transplante da seguinte forma: </li><li> Posicione o mouse sob o microscópio de dissecação em posição de decúbito lateral direito, de modo que o lado raspada está voltado para cima. Starting no centro da área cirúrgica, dispensar em um movimento circular usando uma pipeta de transferência descartável etanol a 70%, seguido de povidona-iodo (Betadine). Repita o tratamento de etanol / betadine 3 vezes antes de fazer uma incisão. </li><li> Usando uma tesoura de dissecção fazer uma incisão flanco 1-2 cm diretamente acima do rim. </li><li> Usando fórceps médias agarrar tecido conjuntivo adjacente ao rim e suavemente levantar o rim de modo a que ela se encontra no topo da musculatura. Para manter o rim exposta e no lugar sobre a musculatura, insira um braço de fórceps médio debaixo do rim, com especial atenção para não perturbar o ílio renal. </li><li> A fim de evitar a dessecação do tecido, irrigar o rim com estéril 1x PBS (pH 7,4) durante cada passo até que a manipulação do rim e rim cápsula é completa. </li><li> Usando fórceps finos apertar e levantar a cápsula perto da borda do rim mais distai para as glândulas supra-renais para separá-lo do rim. </li><li> Utilize um calibre 18agulha para fazer uma incisão grande o suficiente para inserir a peça preparada de timo do doador (Figura 2A). Certifique-se de manter a incisão capsular tão pequeno quanto possível para impedir a deslocação do enxerto ao longo do tempo. </li><li> Mantendo a cápsula puxada para fora do rim, utilizar um segundo par de uma pinça fina para inserir o enxerto por baixo da cápsula e empurrar o timo o mais à frente a partir da incisão capsular quanto possível (Figura 2B). </li><li> Remover a pinça de debaixo do rim, e retornar suavemente o rim de volta no lugar através da incisão. </li><li> Fechar a musculatura suturando a parede peritoneal e aplicando betadine uma vez fechada. Após a sutura está completa, aplicar agrafos para fechar a derme e aplicar betadine para a área circundante. </li><li> Devolver o mouse para uma gaiola que foi aquecido usando uma lâmpada de calor. </li><li> Monitorar cada rato pós-operatório até que recupere a consciência plena e mobilidade e não coloque ratos that não se recuperaram após anestesia em uma gaiola com outros animais. </li><li> Tratar ratos com pós-operatório drogas de gerenciamento de dor, conforme necessário. Fornecer ratinhos com analgésicos pós-operatórias tais como acetaminofeno na água de beber numa concentração de 1,6 mg / ml. </li><li> Repita os passos de 2,3-2,9 para cada rato destinatário. </li><li> Certifique-se de que o retorno ratos para atividades normais dentro de 1 hora de pós-operatório. Monitorar o peso pós-operatório, as habilidades motoras, assim como a actividade de beber e a alimentação de cada murganho para determinar as complicações que surgem como um resultado do procedimento de transplante. NOTA: perda de peso no pós-operatório, quando comparado ao peso pré-operatório, bem como a mobilidade alterada ou falha para comer ou beber pode indicar complicações. </li><li> Monitorar a reconstituição de células T no sangue periférico por sangramento através de ratinhos cauda entalhe seguido de separação de linfócitos, utilizando Lympholyte meios de separação de células de acordo com as especificações do fabricante. Realizar T caracteriz celularção através de coloração de linfócitos com anticorpos conjugados fluorescentes específicos para os marcadores de células T CD3, CD4, e CD8, bem como um discriminador morto vivo, tais como um éster de succinimidilo activado por fluorescência 8. Análise conforme mostrado na Figura 3 pode ser conseguido por meio de propagação em singuletos, células vivas e células CD3 positivas. </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Kappler, J. W., Roehm, N., Marrack, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=T+cell+tolerance+by+clonal+elimination+in+the+thymus.">T cell tolerance by clonal elimination in the thymus.</a> Cell. 49 (2), 273-280 (1987).</li><li>Takahama, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Journey+through+the+thymus:+stromal+guides+for+T-cell+development+and+selection.">Journey through the thymus: stromal guides for T-cell development and selection.</a> Nat. Rev. Immunol. 6, 127-135 (2006).</li><li>Klein, L., Kyewski, B., Allen, P. M., Hogquist, K. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Positive+and+negative+selection+of+the+T+cell+repertoire:+what+thymocytes+see+(and+don&#8217;t+see).">Positive and negative selection of the T cell repertoire: what thymocytes see (and don&#8217;t see).</a> Nat. Rev. Immunol. 14 (6), 377-391 (2014).</li><li>Schwartz, R. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acquisition+of+immunologic+self-tolerance.">Acquisition of immunologic self-tolerance.</a> Cell. 57 (7), 1073-1081 (1989).</li><li>Kishimoto, H., Sprent, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+defect+in+central+tolerance+in+NOD+mice.">A defect in central tolerance in NOD mice.</a> Nat. Immunol. 2 (11), 1025-1031 (2001).</li><li>Anderson, G., Jenkinson, E. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Investigating+central+tolerance+with+reaggregate+thymus+organ+cultures.">Investigating central tolerance with reaggregate thymus organ cultures.</a> Methods. Mol. Biol. 380, 185-196 (2007).</li><li>He, Q., 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=Thymic+development+of+autoreactive+T+cells+in+NOD+mice+is+regulated+in+an+age-dependent+manner.">Thymic development of autoreactive T cells in NOD mice is regulated in an age-dependent manner.</a> J. Immunol. 191 (12), 5858-5866 (2013).</li><li>Stewart, C. C., Stewart, S. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chapter+6.+Immunophenotyping.">Chapter 6. Immunophenotyping.</a> Current Protocols in Cytometry. , (2001).</li><li>Rice, H. E., 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=Thymic+transplantation+for+complete+DiGeorge+syndrome:+medical+and+surgical+considerations.">Thymic transplantation for complete DiGeorge syndrome: medical and surgical considerations.</a> J. Pediatr. Surg. 39 (11), 1607-1615 (2004).</li><li>Markert, M. 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=Transplantation+of+thymus+tissue+in+complete+DiGeorge+Syndrome.">Transplantation of thymus tissue in complete DiGeorge Syndrome.</a> N. Engl. J. Med. 341, 1180-1189 (1999).</li><li>Market, M. L., Devlin, B. H., McCarthy, E. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thymus+transplantation.">Thymus transplantation.</a> Clin. Immunol. 135 (2), 236-246 (2010).</li><li>Wells, A. D., Li, X., Strom, T. B., Turka, L. A. <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+peripheral+T-cell+depletion+in+transplantation+tolerance.">The role of peripheral T-cell depletion in transplantation tolerance.</a> Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. Biol. Sci. 356 (1409), 617-623 (2001).</li><li>Albuquerque, A. S., 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=Human+FOXN1-Deficiency+is+associated+with+ab+double-negative+and+FoxP3++T-cell+expansions+that+are+distinctly+modulated+upon+thymic+transplantation.">Human FOXN1-Deficiency is associated with ab double-negative and FoxP3+ T-cell expansions that are distinctly modulated upon thymic transplantation.</a> PLoS One. 7 (5), e37042 (2012).</li><li>Chinn, I. K., Milner, J. D., Scheinberg, P., Douek, D. C., Markert, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Thymus+transplantation+restores+the+repertoires+of+forkhead+box+protein+3+(FoxP3)++and+FoxP3-+T+cells+in+complete+DiGeorge+anomaly.">Thymus transplantation restores the repertoires of forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)+ and FoxP3- T cells in complete DiGeorge anomaly.</a> Clin Exp Immunol. 173 (1), 140-149 (2013).</li><li>Savino, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+thymus+is+a+common+target+organ+in+infectious+diseases.">The thymus is a common target organ in infectious diseases.</a> PLoS Pathog. 2 (6), e62 (2006).</li></ol>

The authors do not have any competing financial interests to disclose.

Events regulating thymic selection are poorly understood. Recent studies have demonstrated ontogenic changes in the efficiency of selection. Coupling this approach with different transgenic thymus donor and recipient mice will further facilitate studies to identify the events and parameters that regulate thymic selection. Notably, thymic transplantation is used for the treatment and management of T cell and thymic disorders seen for instance in athymic infants lacking functional T cells and in patients with DiGeorge synd...

O timo é um órgão em que os eventos críticos no desenvolvimento de células T ocorrem 1. Timócitos residente, mediante rearranjo do receptor de células T (TCR) e dos genes α β, passam por uma série de interacções com lymphostromal e células apresentadoras de antigénio (APC) nas regiões corticais e medulares do timo 2. Selecção positiva tímico é mediada por células epiteliais tímicas corticais (TEC) para produzir timócitos que reconhecem péptidos antigénicos no contexto do complexo de histocompatibilidade principal hospedeiro (MHC) de classe I e moléculas II 2-3. Subsequente selecção tímica negativa envolve purga de timócitos auto-reactivas, impulsionado por uma interacção com a TEC medular ou células dendríticas (DC) que apresentam péptidos derivados de auto-proteínas ligadas por MHC de classe I e moléculas 3 II. O resultado final destes processos é o estabelecimento de uma pool de células maduras CD4 + e CD8 + T capazes de responder a um espectro amplode antigénios estranhos enquanto exibem reactividade mínima para auto-proteínas 4. A eficiência de eventos de selecção do timo é influenciada por uma série de factores, incluindo maturação do timo, a frequência de medular e cortical do TCE, composição subconjunto de DC timo, e a fonte de precursores do timo 3. Notavelmente, a seleção do timo aberrante pode resultar em auto-imunes 5 ou imunodeficientes patologias, que surgem a partir de selecção negativa ou positiva prejudicada, respectivamente. Os eventos moleculares que regulam a selecção tímica, no entanto, são pouco compreendidos. Em abordagens in vitro, tais como culturas de órgãos tímicos reaggregate (RTOC) 6, têm provado ser úteis para analisar os acontecimentos básicos associados com a selecção tímica, mas não totalmente recapitular a dinâmica do curso em eventos in vivo. Como resultado, esta abordagem baseada em transplante de timo foi criada para melhores eventos estudo de seleção de timócitos in vivo 7 </sup&gt;. Este protocolo descreve o transplante thymi de camundongos recém-nascidos e adultos doadores em ratinhos receptores SCID imunodeficientes. Esta técnica permite o estudo de mecanismos que regulam a selecção tímica positiva e negativa, bem como a saída do timo de vários subconjuntos de células T durante a ontogenia. Mais recentemente, esta abordagem tem sido utilizado para demonstrar que a eficácia de selecção tímica é limitado logo depois do nascimento em ratinhos conduz a um aumento do desenvolvimento de células T auto-reactivas, e um reduzido repertório de células T específicas para antigenes estranhos 7.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol&#160;</td>
			<td>Decon Laboratories</td>
			<td>2705HC</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PBS</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>14190-144</td>
			<td>pH 7.2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Betadine Solution</td>
			<td>Purdue Products</td>
			<td>67618-150-17</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>18 gauge needle</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>305195</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sutures (1.0 metric)</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>J493G</td>
			<td>18&#34; (45cm)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>AUTOCLIP Wound Clips (9mm)</td>
			<td>Clay Adams&#174; Brand</td>
			<td>427631</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Transfer pipette</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>13-711-20</td>
			<td>Sterile, disposable</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse anti-CD3 Ab</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>11-0031-85</td>
			<td>Clone: 1452C11</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse anti-CD4 Ab</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>48-0042-82</td>
			<td>Clone: RM4-5</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse anti-CD8 Ab</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>25-0081-82</td>
			<td>Clone: 53-6.7</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lancet</td>
			<td>Medipoint</td>
			<td>Goldenrod 4mm</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pacific Orange Succinimidyl Ester, Triethylammonium Salt</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>P30253</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96-well round botton polypropylene plates</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>3365</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.2mL polypropylene cluster tubes</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>4401</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5mL polypropylene round-bottom tubes</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>352002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>40uM Nylon Cell Strainer</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352340</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>16% Paraformaldehyde Solution, EM Grade</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Services</td>
			<td>15710</td>
			<td>Hazardous</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Puralube Optical Ointment</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>NC0138063</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lympholyte</td>
			<td>Cedarlane</td>
			<td>CL5030</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>60 mm cell culture dish</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430196</td>
			<td>60mm x 15mm, Sterile</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation and transplantation of different aged murine thymic grafts.

Os mecanismos que regulam a eficácia da selecção do timo permanecem mal definidos. O método aqui apresentado permite em análises in vivo do desenvolvimento e selecção das células T específicas para auto-antigénios e estrangeiras. A abordagem implica o implante de enxertos de timo derivados de várias ratos envelhecidos em recipientes SCID imunodeficientes. Ao longo de um período relativamente curto de tempo, os destinatários são completamente reconstituído com células T derivadas do enxerto de timo implantado. Apenas timócitos semeando o timo no momento de isolamento submetidos a selecção e se desenvolvem em células T maduras. Como tal, as alterações na natureza e especificidade das células T enxertadas como uma função do timo de eventos dependentes da idade, pode ser avaliada. Embora perícia técnica é necessária para o transplante bem sucedido do timo, este método proporciona uma estratégia única para o estudo in vivo, uma vasta gama de patologias que são devido a um resultado ou de função e / ou aberrante do timo homeostasé.

O sucesso deste procedimento é dependente de trauma cirúrgico mínima, bem como o posicionamento preciso do enxerto por baixo da cápsula do rim. O enxerto de timo deve ser cortado para assegurar tamanho adequado secções do timo para transplante subsequente, como mostrado na Figura 1. Seguindo o esquema na Figura 1, timos de ratos recém-nascidos ou adultos podem ser utilizadas para transplante subcapsular com sucesso o enxerto de células T resultados consistentes e reproduzíveis....

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Transplantation of Different Aged Murine Thymic Grafts. at JoVE.com

Isolation and Transplantation of Different Aged Murine Thymic Grafts.

This report provides a detailed description of transplanting murine thymi from different aged donor mice under the kidney capsule of immunodeficient mouse recipients. The goal of this approach is to model T cell development and thymic selection events in vivo.

Isolamento e Transplante de diferentes envelhecidas murino tímicos enxertos.

The mechanisms that regulate the efficacy of thymic selection remain ill-defined. The method presented here allows in vivo analyses of the development and ...

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Immunology and Infection

13.7K visualizações.  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This report provides a detailed description of transplanting murine thymi from different aged donor mice under the kidney capsule of immunodeficient mouse recipients. The goal of this approach is to model T cell development and thymic selection events in vivo. 

Vídeo: Isolation and Transplantation of Different Aged Murine Thymic Grafts.

Murine Model of CD40-activation of B cells

Research on B cells has shown that CD40 activation improves their antigen presentation capacity. When stimulated with interleukin-4 and CD40 ligand (CD40L), human B cells can be expanded without difficulties from small amounts of peripheral blood within 14 days to very large amounts of highly-pure CD40-B cells (&gt;109 cells per patient) from healthy donors as well as cancer patients1-4. CD40-B cells express important lymph node homing molecules and can attract T cells in vitro5. Furthermore they efficiently take up, process and present antigens to T cells6,7. CD40-B cells were shown to not only prime na&iacute;ve, but also expand memory T cells8,9. Therefore CD40-activated B cells (CD40-B cells) have been studied as an alternative source of immuno-stimulatory antigen-presenting cells (APC) for cell-based immunotherapy1,5,10. In order to further study whether CD40-B cells induce effective T cell responses in vivo and to study the underlying mechanism we established a cell culture system for the generation of murine CD40-activated B cells. Using splenocytes or purified B cells from C57BL/6 mice for CD40-activation, optimal conditions were identified as follows: Starting from splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice (haplotype H-2b) lymphocytes are purified by density gradient centrifugation and co-cultured with HeLa cells expressing recombinant murine CD40 ligand (tmuCD40L HeLa)11. Cells are recultured every 3-4 days and key components such as CD40L, interleukin-4, -Mercaptoethanol and cyclosporin A are replenished. In this protocol we demonstrate how to obtain fully activated murine CD40-B cells (mCD40B) with similar APC-phenotype to human CD40-B cells (Fig 1a,b). CD40-stimulation leads to a rapid outgrowth and expansion of highly pure (&gt;90%) CD19+ B cells within 14 days of cell culture (Fig 1c,d). To avoid contamination with non-transfected cells, expression of the murine CD40 ligand on the transfectants has to be controlled regularly (Fig 2). Murine CD40-activated B cells can be used to study B-cell activation and differentiation as well as to investigate their potential to function as APC in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, they represent a promising tool for establishing therapeutic or preventive vaccination against tumors and will help to answer questions regarding safety and immunogenicity of this approach12.

In this video, we demonstrate the procedure of CD40-activation and expansion of murine B cells from splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice, which can be used as a model antigen-presenting cell (APC) to study induction of immunity.

Modelo murino de CD40-ativação de células B

Research on B cells has shown that CD40 activation improves their antigen presentation capacity. When stimulated with interleukin-4 and CD40 ligand ...

Imunologia e Infecção

Examination of Thymic Positive and Negative Selection by Flow Cytometry

A healthy immune system requires that T cells respond to foreign antigens while remaining tolerant to self-antigens. Random rearrangement of the T cell receptor (TCR) &alpha; and &beta; loci generates a T cell repertoire with vast diversity in antigen specificity, both to self and foreign. Selection of the repertoire during development in the thymus is critical for generating safe and useful T cells. Defects in thymic selection contribute to the development of autoimmune and immunodeficiency disorders1-4. 
T cell progenitors enter the thymus as double negative (DN) thymocytes that do not express CD4 or CD8 co-receptors. Expression of the &alpha;&beta;TCR and both co-receptors occurs at the double positive (DP) stage. Interaction of the &alpha;&beta;TCR with self-peptide-MHC (pMHC) presented by thymic cells determines the fate of the DP thymocyte. High affinity interactions lead to negative selection and elimination of self-reactive thymocytes. Low affinity interactions result in positive selection and development of CD4 or CD8 single positive (SP) T cells capable of recognizing foreign antigens presented by self-MHC5.
Positive selection can be studied in mice with a polyclonal (wildtype) TCR repertoire by observing the generation of mature T cells. However, they are not ideal for the study of negative selection, which involves deletion of small antigen-specific populations. Many model systems have been used to study negative selection but vary in their ability to recapitulate physiological events6. For example, in vitro stimulation of thymocytes lacks the thymic environment that is intimately involved in selection, while administration of exogenous antigen can lead to non-specific deletion of thymocytes7-9. Currently, the best tools for studying in vivo negative selection are mice that express a transgenic TCR specific for endogenous self-antigen. However, many classical TCR transgenic models are characterized by premature expression of the transgenic TCR&alpha; chain at the DN stage, resulting in premature negative selection. Our lab has developed the HYcd4 model, in which the transgenic HY TCR&alpha; is conditionally expressed at the DP stage, allowing negative selection to occur during the DP to SP transition as occurs in wildtype mice10.
Here, we describe a flow cytometry-based protocol to examine thymic positive and negative selection in the HYcd4 mouse model. While negative selection in HYcd4 mice is highly physiological, these methods can also be applied to other TCR transgenic models. We will also present general strategies for analyzing positive selection in a polyclonal repertoire applicable to any genetically manipulated mice.

We present a flow cytometry-based method to examine T cell development in vivo using genetically manipulated mice on a wildtype or T cell receptor transgenic background.

Exame de seleção positiva e negativa Tímico por citometria de fluxo

A healthy immune system requires that T cells respond to foreign  antigens while remaining tolerant to self-antigens. Random rearrangement of the  T cell ...

Isolation, Processing and Analysis of Murine Gingival Cells

We have developed a technique to precisely isolate and process murine gingival tissue for flow cytometry and molecular studies. The gingiva is a unique and important tissue to study immune mechanisms because it is involved in host immune response against oral biofilm that might cause periodontal diseases. Furthermore, the close proximity of the gingiva to alveolar bone tissue enables also studying bone remodeling under inflammatory conditions. Our method yields large amount of immune cells that allows analysis of even rare cell populations such as Langerhans cells and T regulatory cells as we demonstrated previously 1. Employing mice to study local immune responses involved in alveolar bone loss during periodontal diseases is advantageous because of the availability of various immunological and experimental tools. Nevertheless, due to their small size and the relatively inconvenient access to the murine gingiva, many studies avoided examination of this critical tissue. The method described in this work could facilitate gingival analysis, which hopefully will increase our understating on the oral immune system and its role during periodontal diseases.

This study describes an efficient technique to isolate and process gingival tissues from the mouse oral cavity in order to produce a single-cell culture. The resulting cells can be further used for flow cytometry analysis and molecular studies.

Isolamento, processamento e análise de células gengivais murino

We have developed a technique to precisely isolate and process murine gingival tissue for flow cytometry and molecular studies. The gingiva is a unique ...

Isolation, Identification, and Purification of Murine Thymic Epithelial Cells

The thymus is a vital organ for T lymphocyte development. Of thymic stromal cells, thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are particularly crucial at multiple stages of T cell development: T cell commitment, positive selection and negative selection. However, the function of TECs in the thymus remains incompletely understood. In the article, we provide a method to isolate TEC subsets from fresh mouse thymus using a combination of mechanical disruption and enzymatic digestion. The method allows thymic stromal cells and thymocytes to be efficiently released from cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix connections and to form a single-cell suspension. Using the isolated cells, multiparameter flow cytometry can be applied to identification and characterization of TECs and dendritic cells. Because TECs are a rare cell population in the thymus, we also describe an effective way to enrich and purify TECs by depleting thymocytes, the most abundant cell type in the thymus. Following the enrichment, cell sorting time can be decreased so that loss of cell viability can be minimized during purification of TECs. Purified cells are suitable for various downstream analyses like Real Time-PCR, Western blot and gene expression profiling. The protocol will promote research of TEC function and as well as the development of in vitro T cell reconstitution.

Here we describe an efficient method for isolation, identification, and purification of mouse thymic epithelial cells (TECs). The protocol can be utilized for studies of thymus function for normal T cell development, thymus dysfunction, and T cell reconstitution.

Isolamento, identificação e purificação de células epiteliais do timo murino

The thymus is a vital organ for T lymphocyte development. Of thymic stromal cells, thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are particularly crucial at multiple ...

Isolation of Murine Lymph Node Stromal Cells

Secondary lymphoid organs including lymph nodes are composed of stromal cells that provide a structural environment for homeostasis, activation and differentiation of lymphocytes. Various stromal cell subsets have been identified by the expression of the adhesion molecule CD31 and glycoprotein podoplanin (gp38), T zone reticular cells or fibroblastic reticular cells, lymphatic endothelial cells, blood endothelial cells and FRC-like pericytes within the double negative cell population. For all populations different functions are described including, separation and lining of different compartments, attraction of and interaction with different cell types, filtration of the draining fluidics and contraction of the lymphatic vessels. In the last years, different groups have described an additional role of stromal cells in orchestrating and regulating cytotoxic T cell responses potentially dangerous for the host. 
Lymph nodes are complex structures with many different cell types and therefore require a appropriate procedure for isolation of the desired cell populations. Currently, protocols for the isolation of lymph node stromal cells rely on enzymatic digestion with varying incubation times; however, stromal cells and their surface molecules are sensitive to these enzymes, which results in loss of surface marker expression and cell death. Here a short enzymatic digestion protocol combined with automated mechanical disruption to obtain viable single cells suspension of lymph node stromal cells maintaining their surface molecule expression is proposed.

Isolation of lymph node stromal cells is a multistep procedure including enzymatic digestion and mechanical disaggregation to obtain fibroblastic reticular cells, lymphatic and blood endothelial cells. In the described procedure, a short digestion is combined with automated mechanical disaggregation to minimize surface marker degradation of viable lymph node stromal cells.

Isolamento de Murino Linfonodo células estromais

Secondary lymphoid organs including lymph nodes are composed of stromal cells that provide a structural environment for homeostasis, activation and ...

Isolation and Intravenous Injection of Murine Bone Marrow Derived Monocytes

As a subtype of leukocytes and progenitors of macrophages, monocytes are involved in many important processes of organisms and are often the subject of various fields in biomedical science. The method described below is a simple and effective way to isolate murine monocytes from heterogeneous bone marrow.
Bone marrow from the femur and tibia of Balb/c mice is harvested by flushing with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Cell suspension is supplemented with macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and cultured on ultra-low attachment surfaces to avoid adhesion-triggered differentiation of monocytes. The properties and differentiation of monocytes are characterized at various intervals. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), with markers like CD11b, CD115, and F4/80, is used for phenotyping. At the end of cultivation, the suspension consists of 45%&#177; 12% monocytes. By removing adhesive macrophages, the purity can be raised up to 86%&#177; 6%. After the isolation, monocytes can be utilized in various ways, and one of the most effective and common methods for in vivo delivery is intravenous tail vein injection. 
This technique of isolation and application is important for mouse model studies, especially in the fields of inflammation or immunology. Monocytes can also be used therapeutically in mouse disease models.

Here we present a protocol that generates large amounts of murine monocytes from heterogeneous bone marrow for translational applications. In comparison to others, this new method helps reduce the number of sacrificed animals and lowers costs by avoiding expensive methods such as high gradient magnetic cell separation (MACS).

Isolamento e injecção intravenosa de Murino de Medula Óssea Derivado monócitos

As a subtype of leukocytes and progenitors of macrophages, monocytes are involved in many important processes of organisms and are often the subject of ...

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes

The intestines &#8212; which contain the largest number of immune cells of any organ in the body &#8212; are constantly exposed to foreign antigens, both microbial and dietary. Given an increasing understanding that these luminal antigens help shape the immune response and that education of immune cells within the intestine is critical for a number of systemic diseases, there has been increased interest in characterizing the intestinal immune system. However, many published protocols are arduous and time-consuming. We present here a simplified protocol for the isolation of lymphocytes from the small-intestinal lamina propria, intraepithelial layer, and Peyer&#39;s patches that is rapid, reproducible, and does not require laborious Percoll gradients. Although the protocol focuses on the small intestine, it is also suitable for analysis of the colon. Moreover, we highlight some aspects that may need additional optimization depending on the specific scientific question. This approach results in the isolation of large numbers of viable lymphocytes that can subsequently be used for flow cytometric analysis or alternate means of characterization.

There is growing interest in the quantitative characterization of intestinal lymphocytes owing to increasing recognition that these cells play a critical role in a variety of intestinal and systemic diseases. In this protocol, we describe how to isolate single cell populations from different small-intestinal compartments for subsequent flow cytometric characterization.

Isolamento e Caracterização de citometria de fluxo de linfócitos de murino Intestino Delgado

The intestines &#8212; which contain the largest number of immune cells of any organ in the body &#8212; are constantly exposed to foreign antigens, both ...

Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures

Thymic selection proceeds in a unique and highly organized thymic microenvironment resulting in the generation of a functional, self-tolerant T cell repertoire. In vitro models to study T lineage commitment and development have provided valuable insights into this process. However, these systems lack the complete three-dimensional thymic milieu necessary for T cell development and, therefore, are incomplete approximations of in vivo thymic selection. Some of the challenges related to modeling T cell development can be overcome by using in situ models that provide an intact thymic microenvironment that fully supports thymic selection of developing T cells. Thymic slice organotypic cultures complement existing in situ techniques. Thymic slices preserve the integrity of the thymic cortical and medullary regions and provide a platform to study development of overlaid thymocytes of a defined developmental stage or of endogenous T cells within a mature thymic microenvironment. Given the ability to generate ~20 slices per mouse, thymic slices present a unique advantage in terms of scalability for high throughput experiments. Further, the relative ease in generating thymic slices and potential to overlay different thymic subsets or other cell populations from diverse genetic backgrounds enhances the versatility of this method. Here we describe a protocol for the preparation of thymic slices, isolation and overlay of thymocytes, and dissociation of thymic slices for flow cytometric analysis. This system can also be adapted to study non-conventional T cell development as well as visualize thymocyte migration, thymocyte-stromal cell interactions, and TCR signals associated with thymic selection by two-photon microscopy.

We describe the preparation of thymic slices that, in combination with flow cytometry, can be used to model positive and negative selection of developing T cells. Thymic slices can also be adapted for the in situ analysis of thymocyte migration, localization, and signaling via immunofluorescence and two-photon microscopy.

Preparação e Aplicações de culturas organotípicas Tímico Fatia

Thymic selection proceeds in a unique and highly organized thymic microenvironment resulting in the generation of a functional, self-tolerant T cell ...

Isolation and Activation of Murine Lymphocytes

B and T cells, with their extremely diverse antigen-receptor repertoires, have the ability to mount specific immune responses against almost any invading pathogen1,2. Understandably, such intricate abilities are controlled by a large number of molecules involved in various cellular processes to ensure timely and spatially regulated immune responses3. Here, we describe experimental procedures that allow rapid isolation of highly purified murine lymphocytes using magnetic cell sorting technology. The resulting purified lymphocytes can then be subjected to various in vitro or in vivo functional assays, such as the determination of lymphocyte signaling capacity upon stimulation by immunoblotting4 and the investigation of proliferative abilities by 3H-thymidine incorporation or carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) labeling5-7. In addition to comparing the functional capacities of control and genetically modified lymphocytes, we can also determine the T cell stimulatory capacity of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in vivo, as shown in our representative results using transplanted CFSE-labeled OT-I T cells.

Lymphocytes are the major players in adaptive immune responses. Here, we present a lymphocyte purification protocol to determine the physiological functions of the desired molecules in lymphocyte activation in vitro and in vivo. The described experimental procedures are suitable for comparing functional capacities between control and genetically modified lymphocytes.

Isolamento e Activação de Linfócitos murinos

B and T cells, with their extremely diverse antigen-receptor repertoires, have the ability to mount specific immune responses against almost any invading ...

Murine Full-thickness Skin Transplantation

Murine full-thickness skin transplantation is a well-established in vivo model to study alloimmune response and graft rejection. Despite its limited application to humans, skin transplantation in mice has been widely employed for transplantation research. The procedure is easy to learn and perform, and it does not require delicate microsurgical techniques nor extensive training. Moreover, graft rejection in this model occurs in a very reproducible immunological reaction and is easily monitored by direct inspection and palpation. In addition, secondary skin transplantation with donor-matched or third-party skin grafts can be performed on more complex transplant models as an alternative and uncomplicated method to assess donor-specific tolerance. The complications are low and are in general limited to anesthesia overdose or respiratory distress after the procedure. Graft failure, on the other hand, occurs commonly as a result of poor preparation of the graft, incorrect positioning in the graft bed, or inappropriate placement of the bandage. In this article, we present a protocol for full-thickness skin transplantation in mice and describe the important steps necessary for a successful procedure.

Murine full-thickness skin transplantation is a well-established model to study rejection in an alloimmune setting. Here, we provide a tutorial of each step involved in performing a BALB/c--&#62;C57BL/6 full-thickness skin transplant.

Murino Transplante de pele de espessura total

Murine full-thickness skin transplantation is a well-established in vivo model to study alloimmune response and graft rejection. Despite its limited ...