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Method Article
* These authors contributed equally
Herein we describe two approaches to characterize cell polarization events in B lymphocytes during the formation of an IS. The first, involves quantification of organelle recruitment and cytoskeleton rearrangements at the synaptic membrane. The second is a biochemical approach, to characterize changes in composition of the centrosome, which undergoes polarization to the immune synapse.
Recognition of surface-tethered antigens by the B cell receptor (BCR) triggers the formation of an immune synapse (IS), where both signaling and antigen uptake are coordinated. IS formation involves dynamic actin remodeling accompanied by the polarized recruitment to the synaptic membrane of the centrosome and associated intracellular organelles such as lysosomes and the Golgi apparatus. Initial stages of actin remodeling allow B cells to increase their cell surface and maximize the quantity of antigen-BCR complexes gathered at the synapse. Under certain conditions, when B cells recognize antigens associated to rigid surfaces, this process is coupled to the local recruitment and secretion of lysosomes, which can facilitate antigen extraction. Uptaken antigens are internalized into specialized endo-lysosome compartments for processing into peptides, which are loaded onto major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) molecules for further presentation to T helper cells. Therefore, studying organelle dynamics associated with the formation of an IS is crucial to understanding how B cells are activated. In the present article we will discuss both imaging and a biochemical technique used to study changes in intracellular organelle positioning and cytoskeleton rearrangements that are associated with the formation of an IS in B cells.
B lymphocytes are an essential part of the adaptive immune system responsible for producing antibodies against different threats and invading pathogens. The efficiency of antibody production is determined by the ability of B cells to acquire, process and present antigens encountered either in a soluble or surface-tethered form1,2. Recognition of antigens attached to the surface of a presenting cell, by the BCR, leads to the formation of a close intercellular contact termed IS3,4. Within this dynamic platform both BCR-dependent downstream signaling and internalization of antigens into endo-lysosome compartments takes place. Uptaken antigens are processed and assembled onto MHC-II molecules and subsequently presented to T lymphocytes. Productive B-T interactions, termed B-T cell cooperation, allow B lymphocytes to receive the appropriate signals, which promote their differentiation into antibody-producing plasma cells or memory cells8.
Two mechanisms have been involved in antigen extraction by B cells. The first one relies on the secretion of proteases originating from lysosomes which undergo recruitment and fusion at the synaptic cleft5,6. The second one, depends on Myosin IIA-mediated pulling forces that triggers the invagination of antigen containing membranes which are internalized into clathrin-coated pits7. The mode of antigen extraction relies on the physical properties of the membrane in which antigens are found. Nevertheless, in both cases, B cells undergo two major remodeling events: actin cytoskeleton reorganization and polarization of organelles to the IS. Actin cytoskeleton remodeling involves an initial spreading stage, where actin-dependent protrusions at the synaptic membrane increase the surface in contact with the antigen. This is followed by a contraction phase, where BCRs coupled with antigens are concentrated at the center of the IS by the concerted action of molecular motors and actin cytoskeleton remodeling8,9,10,11. Polarization of organelles also relies on the remodeling of actin cytoskeleton. For instance, the centrosome becomes uncoupled from the nucleus, by local depolymerization of associated actin, which allows the repositioning of this organelle to the IS5,12. In B cells, repositioning of the centrosome to one cell pole (IS) guides lysosome recruitment to the synaptic membrane, which upon secretion can facilitate the extraction and/or processing of surface-tethered antigens6. Lysosomes recruited at the IS are enriched with MHC-II, which favors the formation of peptide-MHC-II complexes in endosomal compartments to be presented to T cells13. Additionally, the Golgi apparatus has also been observed to be closely recruited to the IS14, suggesting that Golgi-derived vesicles from the secretory pathway could be involved in antigen extraction and/or processing.
Altogether, intracellular organelle and cytoskeleton rearrangements in B cells during synapse formation are the key steps that allow efficient antigen acquisition and processing required for their further activation. In this work we introduce detailed protocols on how to perform imaging and biochemical analysis in B cells to study the intracellular remodeling of organelles associated with the formation of an IS. These techniques include: (i) Immunofluorescence and image analysis of B cells activated with antigen-coated beads and on antigen-coated coverslips, which allows visualization and quantification of intracellular components that are mobilized to the IS and (ii) isolation of centrosome-enriched fractions in B cells by ultracentrifugation on sucrose gradients, which allows the identification of proteins associated with the centrosome, potentially involved in regulating cell polarity.
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NOTE: The following steps were performed using IIA1.6 B cells.
1. B cell activation with antigen-coated beads
2. B cell activation on antigen-coated coverslips
3. Immunofluorescence
NOTE: To avoid cross-reactivity of the secondary antibody with the BCR of IIA 1.6 B cells, do not use mouse-derived primary antibodies.
4. Image analysis
NOTE: The following algorithms are described for ImageJ software. However, this can be performed using an equivalent software. Also, consider that for all fluorescence intensity measurements we use the integrated fluorescence density ("RawIntDen" in ImageJ), because this parameter considers the total amount of fluorescence in each pixel of the image, taking the area into account.
5. Isolation of centrosome-enriched fraction from resting and activated B cells
NOTE: Keep all solutions at 4 °C during the experiment to avoid protein degradation. This protocol was adapted from previous work17,18.
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The present article shows how B cells can be activated using immobilized antigen on beads or coverslips to induce the formation of an IS. We provide information on how to identify and quantify the polarization of different organelles by immunofluorescence and how to characterize proteins that undergo dynamic changes in their association to the centrosome, which polarizes to the IS, using a biochemical approach.
The imaging of B ...
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We describe a comprehensive method to study how B lymphocytes re-organize their intracellular architecture to promote the formation of an IS. This study includes the use of imaging techniques to quantify the intracellular distribution of organelles, such as centrosome, Golgi apparatus and lysosomes during B cell activation, and how they polarize to the IS. Additionally, we describe a biochemical approach to study changes in the centrosome composition upon B cell activation.
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The authors have nothing to disclose.
M.-I.Y. is supported by a research grant from FONDECYT #1180900. J.I., D.F. and J.L. were supported by fellowships from the Comisión Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología. We thank to David Osorio from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile for the video recording and editing.
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Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
IIA1.6 (A20 variant) mouse B-lymphoma cells | ATCC | TIB-208 | Murine B-cell lymphoma of Balb/c origin that expresses an IgG-containing BCR on its surface without FcγIIR |
100% methanol | Fisher Scientific | A412-4 | |
10-mm diameter cover glasses thickness No. 1 circular | Marienfield-Superior | 111500 | |
2-mercaptoethanol | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 21985023 | |
Alexa 488 fluor- donkey ant-rabbit IgG | LifeTech | A21206 | 1:500 dilution recomended but should be optimized |
Alexa Fluor 546 goat anti-Rabbit IgG | Thermo Fisher Scientific | A-11071 | 1:500 dilution recomended but should be optimized |
Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated phalloidin | Thermo Fisher Scientific | A21238 | 1:500 dilution recomended but should be optimized |
Amaxa Nucleofection kit V | Lonza | VCA-1003 | Follow the manufacturer's directions for mixing the transfection reagents with the DNA |
Amaxa Nucleofector model 2b | Lonza | AAB-1001 | Program L-013 used |
Amino- Dynabeads | ThermoFisher | 14307D | |
Anti-pericentrin | Abcam | ab4448 | 1:200 dilution recomended but should be optimized |
Anti-rab6 | Abcam | ab95954 | 1:200 dilution recomended but should be optimized |
Anti-sec61 | Abcam | ab15575 | 1:200 dilution recomended but should be optimized |
BSA | Winkler | BM-0150 | |
CaCl2 | Winkler | CA-0520 | |
Culture plate T25 | BD | 353014 | |
Fiji Software | Fiji col. | ||
Fluoromount G | Electron Microscopy Science | 17984-25 | |
Glutamine | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 35050061 | |
Glutaraldehyde | Sigma | G7651 | |
Glycine | Winkler | BM-0820 | |
Goat-anti-mouse IgG antibody | Jackson ImmunoResearch | 315-005-003 | IIA1.6 positive ligand |
Goat-anti-mouse IgM antibody | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 31186 | IIA1.6 negative ligand |
HyClone Fetal bovine serum | Thermo Fisher Scientific | SH30071.03 | Heat inactivate at 56 oC for 30 min |
KCl | Winkler | PO-1260 | |
Leica SP8 TCS microscope | Leica | ||
NaCl | Winkler | SO-1455 | |
Nikon Eclipse Ti-E epifluorescence microscope | Nikon | ||
Parafilm | M | P1150-2 | |
Paraformaldehyde | Merck | 30525-89-4 | Dilute to 4% with PBS in a safety cabinet, use at the moment |
Penicillin-Streptomycin | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 15140122 | Liquid |
Polybead Amino Microspheres 3.00μm | Polyscience | 17145-5 | |
Poly-L-Lysine | Sigma | P8920 | Dilute with sterile water |
Rabbit anti- alpha tubulin antibody | Abcam | ab6160 | 1:1000 dilution recommended but should be optimized |
Rabbit anti mouse lamp1 antibody | Cell signaling | 3243 | 1:200 dilution recomended but should be optimized |
Rabbit anti-cep55 | Abcam | ab170414 | 1:500 dilution recomended but should be optimized |
Rabbit Anti-gamma Tubulin antibody | Abcam | ab16504 | 1:1000 for Western Blot |
RPMI-1640 | Biological Industries | 01-104-1A | |
Saponin | Merck | 558255 | |
Sodium pyruvate | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 11360070 | |
Sucrose | Winkler | SA-1390 | |
Triton X-100 | Merck | 9036-19-5 | |
Tube 50 ml | Corning | 353043 |
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