This work was supported by the NRF grant HUJ-CREATE - Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Inflammation.

Mice were housed in pathogen-free conditions in compliance with the institutional guidelines until euthanization (The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines at the National University of Singapore and the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research (NACLAR) guidelines).
1. Mice
<ol>
	<li>Order one mouse of the appropriate genetic background. This protocol is based on tissue derived from one C57BL/6 mouse.</li>
</ol>
2. Preparation of Complete Medium</p...

<ol>
	<li>Fitzpatrick, L. E., McDevitt, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell-derived+matrices+for+tissue+engineering+and+regenerative+medicine+applications.">Cell-derived matrices for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.</a> Biomater Sci. 3 (1), 12-24 (2015).</li><li>Elenbaas, B., 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+breast+cancer+cells+generated+by+oncogenic+transformation+of+primary+epithelial+cells.">Human breast cancer cells generated by oncogenic transformation of primary epithelial cells.</a> Genes Dev. 15 (1), 50-65 (2001).</li><li>Stansley, B., Post, J., Hensley, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+comparative+review+of+cell+culture+systems+for+the+study+of+microglial+biology+in+Alzheimer's+disease.">A comparative review of cell culture systems for the study of microglial biology in Alzheimer's disease.</a> J Neuroinflammation. 9 (1), 115 (2012).</li><li>Lim, J., Dobson, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Improved+transfection+of+HUVEC+and+MEF+cells+using+DNA+complexes+with+magnetic+nanoparticles+in+an+oscillating+field.">Improved transfection of HUVEC and MEF cells using DNA complexes with magnetic nanoparticles in an oscillating field.</a> J Genet. 91 (2), 223-227 (2012).</li><li>Li, 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=High-efficiency+transduction+of+fibroblasts+and+mesenchymal+stem+cells+by+tyrosine-mutant+AAV2+vectors+for+their+potential+use+in+cellular+therapy.">High-efficiency transduction of fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells by tyrosine-mutant AAV2 vectors for their potential use in cellular therapy.</a> Hum Gene Ther. 21 (11), 1527-1543 (2010).</li><li>Patel, M., Yang, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advances+in+reprogramming+somatic+cells+to+induced+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Advances in reprogramming somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells.</a> Stem Cell Rev. 6 (3), 367-380 (2010).</li><li>Newman, A. C., Nakatsu, M. N., Chou, W., Gershon, P. D., Hughes, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+requirement+for+fibroblasts+in+angiogenesis:+fibroblast-derived+matrix+proteins+are+essential+for+endothelial+cell+luman+formation.">The requirement for fibroblasts in angiogenesis: fibroblast-derived matrix proteins are essential for endothelial cell luman formation.</a> Mol Biol Cell. 22 (20), 3791-3800 (2011).</li><li>Ohlund, D., Elyada, E., Tuveson, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fibroblast+heterogeneity+in+the+cancer+wound.">Fibroblast heterogeneity in the cancer wound.</a> J Exp Med. 211 (8), 1503-1523 (2014).</li><li>Guo, S., Dipietro, 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=Factors+affecting+wound+healing.">Factors affecting wound healing.</a> J Dent Res. 89 (3), 219-229 (2010).</li><li>Werner, S., Krieg, T., Smola, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Keratinocyte-fibroblast+interactions+in+wound+healing.">Keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions in wound healing.</a> J Invest Dermatol. 127 (5), 998-1008 (2007).</li><li>Shen, Y. 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=Genome-derived+cytosolic+DNA+mediates+type+I+interferon-dependent+rejection+of+B+cell+lymphoma+cells.">Genome-derived cytosolic DNA mediates type I interferon-dependent rejection of B cell lymphoma cells.</a> Cell Rep. 11 (3), 460-473 (2015).</li><li>Seluanov, A., Vaidya, A., Gorbunova, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Establishing+primary+adult+fibroblast+cultures+from+rodents.">Establishing primary adult fibroblast cultures from rodents.</a> J Vis Exp. (44), (2010).</li><li>Baglole, C. 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=Isolation+and+phenotypic+characterization+of+lung+fibroblasts.">Isolation and phenotypic characterization of lung fibroblasts.</a> Methods Mol Med. 117, 115-127 (2005).</li><li>Alt, 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=Fibroblasts+share+mesenchymal+phenotypes+with+stem+cells,+but+lack+their+differentiation+and+colony-forming+potential.">Fibroblasts share mesenchymal phenotypes with stem cells, but lack their differentiation and colony-forming potential.</a> Biol Cell. 103 (4), 197-208 (2011).</li><li>Kuilman, T., Michaloglou, C., Mooi, W. J., Peeper, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+essence+of+senescence.">The essence of senescence.</a> Genes Dev. 24 (22), 2463-2479 (2010).</li><li>Lander, M. R., Moll, B., Rowe, W. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+procedure+for+culture+of+cells+from+mouse+tail+biopsies:+brief+communication.">A procedure for culture of cells from mouse tail biopsies: brief communication.</a> J Natl Cancer Inst. 60 (2), 477-478 (1978).</li><li>Moore, C. B., Allen, I. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+ear+fibroblast+derivation+from+mice.">Primary ear fibroblast derivation from mice.</a> Methods Mol Biol. (1031), 65-70 (2013).</li><li>Liu, 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=Generation+of+stable+pluripotent+stem+cells+from+NOD+mouse+tail-tip+fibroblasts.">Generation of stable pluripotent stem cells from NOD mouse tail-tip fibroblasts.</a> Diabetes. 60 (5), 1393-1398 (2011).</li></ol>

Here we provide a simple, inexpensive and fast experimental procedure to establish primary fibroblast cultures from ears and tails of mice. The extraction should result in adherent and rapidly dividing fibroblasts within 3 days post-isolation of the tissue. An important limitation of primary cells is senescence, a permanent growth arrest15. Using the protocol, fibroblast cultures can be passaged for 5 to 6 times before fibroblasts become senescent, indicated by the flattening of cells, increase in size (2-3 ti...

Primary cells are derived from living tissue and cultured under in vitro conditions. It is generally assumed that primary cells more closely resemble the physiological state and genetic background of the tissue from which they originated than immortalized or tumor cell lines1. For that reason, primary cells represent a useful model for studying biological questions2,3. However, unlike established cell lines that grow indefinitely, primary cells eventually undergo senescence in culture and need to be frequently re-established.
Commonly used primary cells include fibroblasts, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, T cells, B cells, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC). Fibroblasts are often utilized as primary cell culture model. They offer key advantages over other primary cells. Cell cultures are easily established, readily maintained and require no purification of cells prior to culture. They have rapid initial proliferation and no requirement for specialized medium or activation protocols. Fibroblasts can be efficiently transfected using biological, chemical, and physical protocols4,5. There is a possibility to store ears for up to 10 days at RT prior to establishing cell cultures. Fibroblast cultures are conducive to visualization of cytoplasmic processes and suitable for reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells6.
Fibroblasts are important cells of the connective tissue that secrete collagen proteins and extracellular matrix7. They provide the structural framework in many tissues8 and play an essential role in wound healing and tissue repair9,10.
Here, we describe a simple and quick (&#60;4 hr) protocol to establish fibroblast cultures from ears and tails of mice11. The protocol requires minimal mouse experience to harvest the tissues (in contrast to other protocols12,13) and can be used to establish cultures from ears stored in medium at RT for up to 10 days.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="642">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">RPMI-1640</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">HyClone</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SH30027.01</td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Fetal Calf Serum</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">HyClone</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SV30160.03</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">2-mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">M3148</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Asparagine</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A4159</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Glutamine</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">G8540</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">HyClone</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SV30010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ethanol</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Merck Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">107017</td>
			<td>Absolute for analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Collagenase D</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Roche Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">11088866001</td>
			<td>From Clostridium histolyticum, lyophilized, non-sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Pronase protease</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Merck Millipore</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">53702</td>
			<td>From Streptomyces griseus&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Tris buffer (pH 8)</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">1st BASE</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1415</td>
			<td>Ultra pure grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">0.5M EDTA (pH 8)</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">1st BASE</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BUF-1053</td>
			<td>Biotechnology grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">10X Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">1st BASE</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BUF-2040-10X4L</td>
			<td>Ultra pure grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Trypsin-EDTA solution 10X</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">59418C-100ML</td>
			<td>0.5% trypsin, 0.2% EDTA, trypsin gamma irradiated by SER-TAIN process, without phenol red, in saline</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Amphotericin B</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A2492-20ml</td>
			<td>250 &#956;g/ml in deionized water, sterile-filtered</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Scissors</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Aesculap</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Forcep</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Aesculap</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AE-BD312R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">0.2 &#956;M syringe filter</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sartorius Stedim</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">16534</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">70 &#956;M cell strainer</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">SPL</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">93070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Syringe plunger</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Terumo</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SS+10L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Cryovial tube</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">NUNC</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">368362</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">1.7 ml microcentrifuge tube</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Axygen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">MCT-175-C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">10 cm cell culture dish</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Greiner</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">664160</td>
			<td>Cell culture treated dish&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">15 ml conical bottom tube</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Greiner</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">188271</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">50 ml conical bottom tube</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Greiner</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">227261</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Water bath</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">GFL</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1002</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Centrifuge</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Eppendorf</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">5810R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Incubation shaker</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Sartorius Stedim</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Certomat-BS1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Zeiss Axiovert 25 light microscope</td>
			<td style="width:140px;">Carl Zeiss AG</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

generating primary fibroblast cultures from mouse ear and tail tissues

Primary cells are derived directly from tissue and are thought to be more representative of the physiological state of cells in vivo than established cell lines. However, primary cell cultures usually have a finite life span and need to be frequently re-established. Fibroblasts are an easily accessible source of primary cells. Here, we discuss a simple and quick experimental procedure to establish primary fibroblast cultures from ears and tails of mice. The protocol can be used to establish primary fibroblast cultures from ears stored at RT for up to 10 days. When the protocol is carefully followed, contaminations are unlikely to occur despite the use of non-sterile tissue stored for extended time in some cases. Fibroblasts proliferate rapidly in culture and can be expanded to substantial numbers before undergoing replicative senescence.

Extraction of fibroblasts from tissue results in a significant amount of tissue debris (Figure 1). In contrast to tissue debris, fibroblasts adhere to tissue culture plastic surfaces between day 1 and 3 of culture. The medium of fibroblast cultures can be safely changed on day 3 of culture, which should significantly decrease the levels of debris present in the culture (Figure 2). Fibroblasts display an elongated morphology and a clearly visible cytoplasm (Figures 1 and 2</strong...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Generating Primary Fibroblast Cultures from Mouse Ear and Tail Tissues at JoVE.com

Generating Primary Fibroblast Cultures from Mouse Ear and Tail Tissues

We describe a simple and quick experimental procedure for generating primary fibroblasts from the ears and tails of mice. The procedure does not require special animal training and can be used for the generation of fibroblast cultures from ears stored at RT for up to 10 days.

Primary cells are derived directly from tissue and are thought to be more representative of the physiological state of cells in vivo than established cell ...

The overall goal of this protocol is to establish primary fibroblast cultures from the ears and tail of mice. This method can help answer key questions in the cell biology field, such as the difference between healthy and cancer cells. The main advantage of this study is that we can generate fibroblast from ears that were stored in medium at room temperature for up to 10 days before isolating the cells.Though this method can provide insight into mouse biology, it can also be applied to other mammalian animal organisms such as rats and rabbits. Before collecting the tissues, load 10 centimeter culture dishes with 10 milliliters of complete medium. Then, after the mouse has been euthanized, proceed with using sterilized instruments to collect the tissue samples.Collect ear tissues with about a one centimeter radius, and collect about five centimeters of tail tissue. Transfer the tissues to a conical tube loaded with 40 milliliters of 70%ethanol. Let them soak for five minutes, and then air-dry them in an open 10 centimeter culture dish for five minutes in a culture hood.After the tissues dry, transfer them onto the media-loaded plate. Now, snip the hair off all the tissues using scissors, and then cut the tissues into pieces smaller than three millimeters. Transfer the diced tissue to cryotube vials, and then fill the vials with collagenase D pronase solution, to the 1.8 milliliter mark.Now incubate the tissues at 37 degrees Celsius, with shaking at 200 rpm for 90 minutes. At the hood, load a dish with 10 milliliters of complete medium. Over the dish, place a 70 micron cell strainer, and after the incubation, load the tissue digestion into the strainer.Now, grind the tissues in the strainer using a plunger. Do this for at least five minutes. Occasionally shake the strainer into the medium to wash out dissociated cells.It is important that the digested ear and tail tissues are ground out well in order to cull out a good number of cells. Also be sure to shake the cell strainer after grinding the tissues. This will wash out additional cells from the strainer.Next, collect the cell suspension in a 15 milliliter conical tube. Then, rinse the strainer with 10 milliliters of medium, and add the rinse solution to the collection. Now, wash the cells.Firstly, spin the cells down in a refrigerated centrifuge. Secondly, remove the supernatant. And thirdly, suspend the cells in 10 milliliters of complete medium.Repeat the wash once more, and finish the procedure with the cells in complete medium, ready for culturing. To culture the cells, first, transfer the cell suspensions to 10 milliliter culture dishes. Then, add 10 microliters of amphrotericin B solution to each culture.Now, incubate the cells for three days. On the third day, replace the medium with fresh complete medium with amphrotericin B.Soon after, the cultures will reach 70%confluency. At this point, remove the medium and rinse the culture with five milliliters of 1X PBS.Then, replace the PBS with two milliliters of 1X trypsin EDTA solution, and incubate the cells for five minutes. After the brief incubation, gently tap the dishes and add six milliliters of fresh complete medium to each dish. Now, pipette the released cells from the dish to two 15 milliliter conical tubes.Then, spin the tubes down for five minutes at 450 Gs in a refrigerated centrifuge. Resuspend the pellets in five milliliters of complete medium and measure the cell density of the suspensions. Now, feed the cells to 10 centimeter dishes at 200, 000 per dish.Incubate these cells for three to four days until they reach 70%confluency, and then repeat the process of collecting, and replating the cells at a specific density. They can be grown this way for up to 25 days. Three days after the cell extraction, there was significant debris in the culture before exchanging the medium.The cell debris is highlighted with white arrows. The scale bar represents 100 microns. New medium significantly reduced the cell debris.Three day old cultures produced from tissue that had been stored at room temperature for 10 days demonstrated that the fibroblasts are fairly hardy. From such tissues, 70 to 80%fibroblast confluency was achieved after five to six days. The cells were labelled with a marker for fibroblasts, vimentin, seen in red.DAPI was used to label the nuclei, which is seen in blue. The scale bar is 10 microns. The uniform staining suggests that the fibroblast culture is pure.The described protocol routinely got this result. After watching this video, you should have gotten this ending of how to quickly and reliably establish primary fibroblast cultures. While attempting this procedure, extra attention should be given during the extraction of fibroblasts from the tissues, as insufficient grinding of the tissue will result in lower cell numbers.

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Developmental Biology

33.1K visualizações.  Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. The overall goal of this protocol is to establish primary fibroblast cultures from the ears and tail of mice. This method can help answer key questions in the cell biology field, such as the difference between healthy and cancer cells. The main advantage of this study is that we can generate fibroblast from ears that were stored in medium at room temperature for up to 10 days before isolating the cells.Though this method can provide insight into mouse biology, it can also be applied to...