This work was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health grants R21 AI113000 (W.S.M) and R01 AI123392 (Y.F.).

All the animals used in the experiments were housed in the animal facility at Allegheny-Singer Research Institute under the protocol reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Allegheny Health Network/Allegheny Singer Research Institute.
1. Digesting the Thymus with Collagenase
<ol>
	<li>Harvest thymus glands.
	<ol>
		<li>Euthanize 3-5 week-old C57BL6/J mice in a carbon dioxide (CO2) chamber to harvest thymus glands. In detail, place the mice i...

<ol>
	<li>Anderson, G., Jenkinson, E. J., Moore, N. C., Owen, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=MHC+class+II-positive+epithelium+and+mesenchyme+cells+are+both+required+for+T-cell+development+in+the+thymus.">MHC class II-positive epithelium and mesenchyme cells are both required for T-cell development in the thymus.</a> Nature. 362, 70-73 (1993).</li><li>Fan, 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=Thymus-specific+deletion+of+insulin+induces+autoimmune+diabetes.">Thymus-specific deletion of insulin induces autoimmune diabetes.</a> The EMBO J. 28, 2812-2824 (2009).</li><li>Mohtashami, M., Zuniga-Pflucker, J. 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O., Levi, D., Chentoufi, A. A., Polychronakos, C. <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+characterization+of+proinsulin-producing+medullary+thymic+epithelial+cell+clones.">Isolation and characterization of proinsulin-producing medullary thymic epithelial cell clones.</a> Diabetes. 55, 2595-2601 (2006).</li><li>Williams, K. 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=Single+cell+analysis+of+complex+thymus+stromal+cell+populations:+rapid+thymic+epithelia+preparation+characterizes+radiation+injury.">Single cell analysis of complex thymus stromal cell populations: rapid thymic epithelia preparation characterizes radiation injury.</a> Clin Transl Sci. 2, 279-285 (2009).</li><li>McLelland, B. T., Gravano, D., Castillo, J., Montoy, S., Manilay, J. 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A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation,+identification,+and+purification+of+murine+thymic+epithelial+cells.">Isolation, identification, and purification of murine thymic epithelial cells.</a> J Vis Exp. , e51780 (2014).</li><li>Graham, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Separation+of+monocytes+from+whole+human+blood.">Separation of monocytes from whole human blood.</a> ScientificWorldJournal. 2, 1540-1543 (2002).</li><li>Li, X., Donowitz, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fractionation+of+subcellular+membrane+vesicles+of+epithelial+and+nonepithelial+cells+by+OptiPrep+density+gradient+ultracentrifugation.">Fractionation of subcellular membrane vesicles of epithelial and nonepithelial cells by OptiPrep density gradient ultracentrifugation.</a> Methods Mol Biol. 440, 97-110 (2008).</li><li>Mita, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Purification+method+using+iodixanol+(OptiPrep)-based+density+gradient+significantly+reduces+cytokine+chemokine+production+from+human+islet+preparations,+leading+to+prolonged+beta-cell+survival+during+pretransplantation+culture.">Purification method using iodixanol (OptiPrep)-based density gradient significantly reduces cytokine chemokine production from human islet preparations, leading to prolonged beta-cell survival during pretransplantation culture.</a> Transplant Proc. 41, 314-315 (2009).</li><li>Anderson, G., 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=Thymic+epithelial+cells:+working+class+heroes+for+T+cell+development+and+repertoire+selection.">Thymic epithelial cells: working class heroes for T cell development and repertoire selection.</a> Trends Immunol. 33, 256-263 (2012).</li><li>Kyewski, B., Klein, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+central+role+for+central+tolerance.">A central role for central tolerance.</a> Annu Rev Immunol. 24, 571-606 (2006).</li><li>St-Pierre, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcriptome+sequencing+of+neonatal+thymic+epithelial+cells.">Transcriptome sequencing of neonatal thymic epithelial cells.</a> Sci Rep. 3, 1860 (2013).</li></ol>

While TECs are the predominant population of the thymic stroma and play essential roles for the structure and function of the thymus glands, they represent only about 0.1-0.5% of the total thymic cellularity. They are also fragile cells as high percentages of cell death are occasionally observed following collagenase digestion, i.e., the treatment to dissociate TECs from the extracellular matrix (ECM). Their rarity (~200,000 per mouse thymus) and fragility made it a challenging task to isolate TECs. The recent u...

The thymus is the primary lymphoid organ responsible for the generation of a diverse population of pathogen-reactive, self-tolerant T cells that is essential to the function of the acquired immune system. It is a dynamic organ where developing thymocytes, immigrated from the bone marrow as lymphocyte progenitor cells, migrate through the sponge-like three-dimensional (3-D) matrix of the thymic stroma, undergo lineage-specification and differentiation, and eventually emigrate as mature T-cells. The success of this well programmed process depends largely on the cross-talk between the migrating thymocytes and the residential thymic epithelial cells (TECs), the predominant population of the thymic stroma that are essential for establishing and maintaining the integrity of the thymus microenvironment.
Based on their anatomical location and unique function, TECs can be divided into two subsets: the TECs in the cortex (cTECs) that are responsible for selecting self-MHC (major histocompatibility complex) restricted T-cells (positive selection), and the TECs in the medulla (mTECs) that are essential for eliminating autoreactive T-cells (negative selection) 1,2. Many factors (e.g., aging, infection, irradiation, drug treatments) can cause irreversible damages to the thymic epithelium, resulting in compromised adaptive immunity. Despite numerous attempts, restoring the thymic function has been challenging due to the difficulty to reproduce the thymic microenvironment. Notably, thymic three-dimensional (3-D) configuration is critical to the survival and function of TECs, whereas TECs cultured in a 2-D environment rapidly decrease the expression of genes critical for thymopoiesis 3,4.
EAK16-II (AEAEKAKAEAEAKAK) and its C-terminal histidinylated analogue EAKIIH6 (AEAEKAKAEAEAKAKHHHHHH) are low-molecular weight, amphiphilic oligopeptides that are soluble in deionized water, but undergo gelation to form &#946;-fibrils when exposed to ionic strength higher than 20 mM NaCl (normal salt concentration in human body fluid is 154 mM). This environmental responsive property makes them versatile building blocks to form 3D structures. The His-tag on EAKII-H6 provides a docking mechanism, by which the anti-His IgGs/Fc-binding recombinant protein A/G (&#945;H6:pA/G) complexes can serve as an adaptor to anchor protein drugs and other biomolecules (e.g., antibodies) on the hydrogel composite 5-8.
We have previously demonstrated that fluorescent-labeled IgG molecules anchored on the hydrogel can be retained at the injection site for up to 13 days 9. Furthermore, when the &#945;H6:pA/G adaptors anchored with anti-CD4 IgGs were added to the EAK16-II/EAKIIH6 (EAK) hydrogel, CD4+ T cells were specifically captured 10. Using similar technique, we have recently demonstrated that 3-D aggregation of TECs could be promoted in EAK hydrogel with adaptor complexes carrying TEC-specific anti-EpCAM antibodies (&#945;H6:pA/G:&#945;EpCAM). When transplanted underneath the kidney capsules of nude mice, the TEC clusters embedded in EAK hydrogel can effectively support the development of functional T cells in vivo11,12.
Here we illustrate our method to quickly and effectively purify TECs with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and generate 3-D TEC aggregates with the EAK hydrogel system.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="722">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">1. TEC Isolation</td>
			<td style="width:175px;"></td>
			<td style="width:111px;"></td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">70% Ethanol</td>
			<td>Decon Laboratories</td>
			<td>2701(1 Gallon)</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Ethanol 200 Proof, deionized water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Dissecting scissors, straight</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools, Inc.</td>
			<td>91460-11</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Graefe forceps, straight</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools, Inc.</td>
			<td>11053-10</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Graefe forceps, curved</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools, Inc.</td>
			<td>11052-10</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:27px;width:216px;">Washing solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;">1X PBS, 0.1% BSA, 2mM EDTA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:216px;">1x PBS (Phosphate buffered saline)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>10010-023</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">BSA (Bovine serum albumin)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>A1470-100G</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="46">
			<td height="46" style="height:47px;width:216px;">EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>15575-038</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="66">
			<td height="66" style="height:67px;width:216px;">Digestion solution</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;">9 mL RPMI-1640, 0.025 mg/mL Liberase TM Research grade, 10 mM HEPES, 0.2 mg/mL DNaseI</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">RPMI-1640</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11879-020</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Liberase TM Research Grade</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>05 401 127 001</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">referred as &#34;purified collagenase&#34;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">1M HEPES</td>
			<td>Lonza</td>
			<td>17-737E</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Dnase I</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>10 104 159 001</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">50mL Centrifuge tube</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>430290</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">60mm tissue culture dish</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>353002</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:27px;width:216px;">1/2cc U-100 Insulin syringe 28G1/2</td>
			<td>Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td>329461</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:216px;">5mL Polystyrene round-bottom tube</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352058</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="62">
			<td height="62" style="height:63px;width:216px;">5ml glass pipet</td>
			<td>Fisher Healthcare</td>
			<td>13-678-27E</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Use for rinsing the thymic fragments. Thymic fragments tend to stick to the wall with plastic pipets.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">MACSmix tube rotator</td>
			<td>Miltenyi</td>
			<td>130-090-753</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">100um Cell strainer</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352360</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Density gradient medium: OptiPrep</td>
			<td>Axis-Shield</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">2. Cell sorting</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="38">
			<td height="38" style="height:39px;width:216px;">5mL Polypropylene round-bottom tube</td>
			<td>Falcon</td>
			<td>352063</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Anti-mouse CD16/CD32 (Fc Block)</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td>553142</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Use as undiluted, 2uL per sample</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Anti-mouse CD45-PercpCy5.5</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>45-0451-80</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Use at 1:150, 10uL per sample</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Anti-mouse CD326 (EpCAM)-PE</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>12-5791-82</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Use at 1:100, 10uL per sample</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">BD Influx</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Single cell analysis software</td>
			<td>FlowJo</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:175px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:111px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">2. EAK gel assembly</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Anti-His-Tag</td>
			<td>AnaSpec</td>
			<td>29673</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">&#34;anti-His-Tag IgG&#34;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="34">
			<td height="34" style="height:34px;width:216px;">Purified anti-mouse CD326 (EpCAM)</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>118202</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">&#34;anti-EpCAM IgG&#34;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Recombinant protein A/G</td>
			<td>Pierce Biotechnology</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="50">
			<td height="50" style="height:51px;width:216px;">1.5mL Safe-Lock Tubes, Biopur, Sterile</td>
			<td>Fisher Healthcare</td>
			<td>05-402-24B</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">referred as &#34;1.5mL microcentrifuge tube&#34;&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="51">
			<td height="51" style="height:51px;width:216px;">96-well, Tissue culture plate, Round-bottom with low evaporation lid</td>
			<td>BD Falcon</td>
			<td>353917</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Rocking platform: Nutator Mixer no.1105</td>
			<td>BD Clay Adams</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">10% sucrose</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S0389</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Prepare with sterile distilled water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:216px;">EAK16-II (AcNH-AEAEAKAKAEAEAKAK-CONH2)</td>
			<td>American Peptide Company&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;">custom synthesized, 10mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="58">
			<td height="58" style="height:59px;width:216px;">EAKIIH6 (AcNH-AEAEAKAKAEAEAKAKHHHHHH-CONH2)</td>
			<td>American Peptide Company&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;">custom synthesized, 7.5mg/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="76">
			<td height="76" style="height:76px;width:216px;">Complete medium</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td style="width:223px;">RPMI-1640, 10% FBS, 1% Pen/Strep, 1% L-glutamine, 1% NEAA, 5mM HEPES, 50uM 2-Mercaptoethanol</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">RPMI-1640&#160;</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11879-020</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum)</td>
			<td>Atlanta Biologicals</td>
			<td>S11150</td>
			<td style="width:223px;">Heat inactivated before use</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">Pen/Strep</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15140-122</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">L-glutamine 200mM (100x)</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>25030-081</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:43px;width:216px;">NEAA (non-essential amino acid) 100x</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>11140-050</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:216px;">1M HEPES</td>
			<td>BioWhittaker</td>
			<td>17-737E</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">2-Mercaptoethanol (100X)</td>
			<td>Millipore</td>
			<td>ES-007-E</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Platform shaker: The Belly Dancer</td>
			<td>Stovall Life Sciences Inc.</td>
			<td>model: USBDbo</td>
			<td style="width:223px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

promoting 3-d aggregation of facs purified thymic epithelial cells with eak 16-ii/eakiih6 self-assembling hydrogel

Thymus involution, associated with aging or pathological insults, results in diminished output of mature T-cells. Restoring the function of a failing thymus is crucial to maintain effective T cell-mediated acquired immune response against invading pathogens. However, thymus regeneration and revitalization proved to be challenging, largely due to the difficulties of reproducing the unique 3D microenvironment of the thymic stroma that is critical for the survival and function of thymic epithelial cells (TECs). We developed a novel hydrogel system to promote the formation of TEC aggregates, based on the self-assembling property of the amphiphilic EAK16-II oligopeptides and its histidinylated analogue EAKIIH6. TECs were enriched from isolated thymic cells with density-gradient, sorted with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and labeled with anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies that were anchored, together with anti-His IgGs, on the protein A/G adaptor complexes. Formation of cell aggregates was promoted by incubating TECs with EAKIIH6 and EAK16-II oligopeptides, and then by increasing the ionic concentration of the medium to initiate gelation. TEC aggregates embedded in EAK hydrogel can effectively promote the development of functional T cells in vivo when transplanted into the athymic nude mice.

To examine the effectiveness of using the density gradient separation protocol to enrich the CD45- stromal cells, cells harvested from both the interface and the precipitated lymphocyte pellets were stained with anti-CD45 and anti-EpCAM antibodies. Both anti-Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin 1 (UEA1) and anti-MHC Class II antibodies were also included in the staining cocktail to further identify the cTEC and mTEC subsets. As shown in Figure 1, we were able to routinely achieve cl...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Promoting 3-D Aggregation of FACS Purified Thymic Epithelial Cells with EAK 16-II/EAKIIH6 Self-assembling Hydrogel at JoVE.com

Promoting 3-D Aggregation of FACS Purified Thymic Epithelial Cells with EAK 16-II/EAKIIH6 Self-assembling Hydrogel

This video demonstrates a protocol to enrich thymic epithelial cells (TECs) with density gradient for FACS isolation. It also shows the use of EAK16-II/EAKIIH6 peptides to promote the TEC aggregate formation. The microenvironments of EAK16-II/EAKIIH6 hydrogel provide the 3-D configuration necessary to maintain the survival and function of the TECs.

Thymus involution, associated with aging or pathological insults, results in diminished output of mature T-cells. Restoring the function of a failing ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to demonstrate the use of the EAK 16-II/EAKIIH6 peptide in promoting thymic epithelial cell aggregation in a three-dimensional structure for supporting thymic epithelial self-survival and function. This method may help answer key questions in the thymus bioengineering field. The main advantages of this technique is that it utilizes EAK-16-II/EAKIIH6 peptide, promotes thymic epithelial cell aggregation, is biodegradable, and has a potential to be used for injections.To harvest the thymus, begin by placing a three to five week old C57 black 6J mouse in the supine position and wet the hair with 70%ethanol. Using sharp, straight dissecting scissors, make a small horizontal incision through the abdominal skin. Then pull the skin on both sides of the incision to expose the abdominal cavity.Next, make a horizontal cut just under the lowest rib and cut sideways to the diaphragm. Using forceps, pull the xiphoid process and cut through the middle of the ribs along both sides of the chest. Pull up the ribs and sternum so that the thymus is clearly visible.Then, using a curved forceps, gently scoop the lobes of the thymus off of the connective tissue and place them in washing solution. After the rinse, transfer the thymus into a 16 milliliter tissue culture dish containing five to six milliliters of RPMI 1640 and use a 28 gauge insulin needle to dissect the tissue into approximately one cubic millimeter square pieces. Next, use a glass pasteur pipette to rinse the tissue fragments with the medium in the dish.Then, tilt the dish, letting the fragments settle to the bottom. Slowly remove the medium supernatant by aspiration. Then repeat the wash four to five more times with five to six milliliters of fresh medium each time until the solution becomes less opaque.After the final wash, add three milliliters of digestion solution to the dish and transfer the thymus pieces and solution into a five milliliter round-bottom polystyrene tube. Incubate the tissues on a tube rotator at 37 degrees celsius for six minutes at 12 rpm. At the end of the rotation, let the fragments settle to the bottom of the tube and use a pasteur pipette to transfer the supernatant into a 15 milliliter conical tube containing 10 milliliters of washing solution.Centrifuge the supernatant and resuspend the cells in 10 milliliters of fresh washing solution on ice. Then digest the thymic fragments two more times in the rotator as just demonstrated, pulling the supernatant in the same 50 milliliter tube. After the final digestion, use a plastic two milliliter serological pipette to triturate any remaining fragments and transfer the tissues'flurry to the 50 milliliter tube.Spin down the tube to collect the cells and resuspend the pellet in 10 milliliters of washing buffer. Then, filter the cells through a 100 micron strainer while the tube is placed on ice. To enrich for the thymic epithelial cells, spin down the cells again and resuspend the pellet in 2.5 milliliters of washing buffer.Next, add 20 milliliters of RPMI 1640 to the cells and use a 10 milliliter serological pipette to carefully layer 12 milliliters of freshly prepared 21%density gradient solution under the cells by gravity. Now, separate the cells by centrifugation in a swinging bucket rotor at the slowest deceleration rate. At the end of the centrifugation, transfer the top layer and the interface into a new 50 milliliter tube and add up to 40 milliliters of washing solution to the cells.Remove the density gradient by three consecutive centrifugations using a pipette to aspirate the supernatant after each wash. Then resuspend the final pellet in two milliliters of washing solution for counting. To generate the thymic epithelial cell EAK aggregates, adjust the thymic epithelial cells to a five times 10 to the four cells per milliliter dilution in washing solution and seed 100 microliters of cells per well into a low evaporative 96 well, round-bottom, tissue culture plate.Next, add 14.6 microliters of freshly prepared protein AG adapter complexes to each well and place the plate on a rocking platform at four degrees celsius. After 20 minutes, wash the cells with 200 microliters of washing solution per well, using a micropipette to remove the supernatant. Then, wash the cells again with 200 microliters of 10%sucrose solution.Resuspend the pellets in 30 microliters of 10%sterile sucrose solution per well. Then, incubate the cells in 10 microliters of EAKIIH6 for five minutes at room temperature. At the end of the incubation, add 20 microliters of EAK 16-II, followed by 100 microliters of complete medium and place the plate on a platform at room temperature to initiate the gelation.After 15 to 20 minutes, transfer the plate to a 37 degrees celsius and 5%carbon dioxide incubator for two to four hours. Then add another 100 microliters of complete medium and return the plate to the incubator. To change the medium, use a micropipette to aspirate 100 microliters of the medium from the surface of the cultures without disturbing the gel and place the tip against the walls of each well to seed the cultures with 100 microliters of pre-warmed medium.Using the density gradient separation protocol as just demonstrated, CD45 negative stromal cells can routinely be enriched 15 to 20 times as illustrated in these representative dot plots. Here, thymic epithelial cell aggregates, prepared from four week old red fluorescent expressing transgenic mice as just demonstrated, were cultured for two days in vitro and examined by confocal microscopy. Once mastered, thymic epithelial cells can be enriched for flow sorting in three to four hours.After its development, this technique paved the way for researchers in the field of thymus tissue engineering to develop injectable, functional mini thymus units to modulate adaptive immune system.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

6.4K visualizações.  Allegheny Health Network. The overall goal of this procedure is to demonstrate the use of the EAK 16-II/EAKIIH6 peptide in promoting thymic epithelial cell aggregation in a three-dimensional structure for supporting thymic epithelial self-survival and function. This method may help answer key questions in the thymus bioengineering field. The main advantages of this technique is that it utilizes EAK-16-II/EAKIIH6 peptide, promotes thymic epithelial cell aggregation, is biodegradable, and has a potential to be used for ...