Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo

Summary

Here, we show therapeutic potential of anti-angiogenic tumor-associated neutrophils after their transfer into tumor-bearing mice. This protocol can be used to manipulate neutrophil activity ex vivo and to subsequently evaluate their functionality in vivo in developing tumors. It is an appropriate model for studying potential neutrophil-based immunotherapies.

Abstract

The contribution of neutrophils to the regulation of tumorigenesis is getting increased attention. These cells are heterogeneous, and depending on the tumor milieu can possess pro- or anti-tumor capacity. One of the important cytokines regulating neutrophil functions in a tumor context are type I interferons. In the presence of interferons, neutrophils gain anti-tumor properties, including cytotoxicity or stimulation of the immune system. Conversely, the absence of an interferon signaling results in prominent pro-tumor activity, characterized with strong stimulation of tumor angiogenesis. Recently, we could demonstrate that pro-angiogenic properties of neutrophils depend on the activation of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) signaling pathway in these cells. Inhibition of this pathway in tumor-associated neutrophils leads to their potent anti-angiogenic phenotype. Here, we demonstrate our newly established model allowing in vivo evaluation of tumorigenic potential of manipulated tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs). Shortly, pro-angiogenic tumor-associated neutrophils can be isolated from tumor-bearing interferon-deficient mice and repolarized into anti-angiogenic phenotype by blocking of NAMPT signaling. The angiogenic activity of these cells can be subsequently evaluated using an aortic ring assay. Anti-angiogenic TANs can be transferred into tumor-bearing wild type recipients and tumor growth should be monitored for 14 days. At day 14 mice are sacrificed, tumors removed and cut with their vascularization assessed. Overall, our protocol provides a novel tool to in vivo evaluate angiogenic capacity of primary cells, such as tumor-associated neutrophils, without a need to use artificial neutrophil cell line models. vc

Introduction

Type I Interferons (IFNs) play an important role in the stimulation of host responses to neoplasias, as the lack of type I IFN signaling results in significantly elevated tumor growth¹. One of the mechanisms involved in this process is the regulation of tumorigenic activity of tumor-associated neutrophils, which is controlled by colony-stimulating factor 3 receptor (CSF3R) downstream signaling². Colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3), or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, was shown to activate signaling involving nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT)^3,4.....

Protocol

All the procedures including animal subjects have been approved by the regulatory authorities: LANUV (Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz NRW) and Regierungspräsidium Tübingen, Germany. All manipulations should be performed in sterile conditions (under laminar flow hood) using sterile reagents and instruments (syringes, scissors, forceps, disposable scalpels, Petri dishes).

NOTE: The overall scheme of the protocol is shown in the Figure 1

Discussion

Despite progress in surgical and pharmacological cancer treatment, successful therapy remains a challenge. Since immune cells are known to play an important role in the regulation of tumor growth, novel methods inhibiting tumorigenicity of such cells should be established. Here we demonstrate a novel approach to suppress tumor growth via adoptive transfer of anti-angiogenic tumor-associated neutrophils. Selective targeting of pro-angiogenic NAMPT signaling in TANs, using FK866 inhibitor, prevents side effects, which are .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
15 ml tubes	Sarstedt AG & Co., Nümbrecht, Germany	62,554,502
50 ml tubes	Cellstar, Greiner Bio One International GmbH, Frickenhausen, Germany	227261
5ml / 10ml / 25ml sterile tipps for the automatic pipette	Cellstar, Greiner Bio One International GmbH, Frickenhausen, Germany	6006180 / 607180 / 760180
6 well flat-bottom cell culture plates	Sarstedt AG & Co., Nümbrecht, Germany	833,920
96 well flat-bottom cell culture plates	Cellstar, Greiner Bio One International GmbH, Frickenhausen, Germany	655180
96 well U-bottom cell culture plates	Cellstar, Greiner Bio One International GmbH, Frickenhausen, Germany	65018
AMG EVOS fl digital inverted microscope	AMG, Bothel, U.S.
anti-mouse CD11b	BD Pharmigen, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, U.S.	553312	clone M1/70, APC-conjugated, 0.2mg/mL
anti-mouse Ly6G	BioLegend, California, U.S.	127608	clone 1A8, PE-conjugated, 0.2mg/mL
BD FACS AriaII	BD Biosciences, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, U.S.		cell sorter
Caliper	Vogel Germany, Kevelaer, Germany
Casy cell counter	Innovatis, Roche Innovatis AG, Bielefeld, Germany
Cell Trics 50µm / 100 µm sterile filters	Sysmex Partec GmbH, Goerlitz, Germany	04-004-2327 / 04-004-2328
Centrifuge Rotina 420 R	Andreas Hettich, Tuttlingen, Germany	4706
Collagenase D	Sigma-Aldrich/Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	11088858001
DAPI (4',6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole, Dilactate)	BioLegend, California, U.S.	422801	Stock: 5mg/ml
Dispase I	Sigma-Aldrich/Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	D4818-2MG
DMEM	Gibco, Life Technologies/Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, U.S.	41966-029	DMEM complete: DMEM + 10% FBS + 1% penicillin-streptomycin
DMSO (Dimethylsufoxide)	WAK-Chemie Medical GmbH, Steinbach, Germany	WAK-DMSO-10	CryoSure-DMSO
DNase I	Sigma-Aldrich/Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	DN25-100MG
DPBS	Gibco, Life Technologies/Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, U.S.	14190-094
Endothelial cell growth medium	PromoCell, Heidelberg, Germany	c-22010
FBS (Fetal Bovine Serum)	Biochrom, Berlin, Germany	S0115
Fc-block (Anti-mouse CD16/32)	BD Pharmingen, Becton Dickinson,Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, U.S.	553142	clone 2.4G2, Stock: 0.5mg/mL
FK 866 hydrochloride	Axon Medchem, Groningen, Netherlands	Axon 1546	Stock: 100 mM
Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG H&L	Abcam, Cambridge, U.K.	ab97075	Cy3-conjugated, Stock: 0.5 mg/mL
Heracell 240i CO2 Incubator	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, U.S.	51026334
IMDM	Gibco, Life Technologies/Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, U.S.	12440-053	IMDM complete: IMDM + 10% FBS + 1% penicillin-streptomycin
Isis GT420 shaver	B. Braun Asculap, Suhl, Germany	90200714
Matrigel Matrix basement membrane	Corning Life Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands	7205011
Microtome Cryostat Microm HM 505 N	Microm International GmbH, Walldorf, Germany
Monoclonal Anti-Actin, α-Smooth Muscle	Sigma-Aldrich/Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	F3777	FITC-conjugated, no information about stock concentration
Needles 0.4 mm x 16 mm	BD Microlance, Becton Dicson, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, U.S.	302200
Neomount	Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	HX67590916
Normal goat serum	Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, West Grove, U.S.	005-000-121
Penicillin Streptomycin	Gibco, Life Technologies/Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, U.S.	15140-122
Pipetus automatic pipette	Hirschmann Laborgeräte, Eberstadt, Germany	9907200
ProLong Gold Antifade Mountant with DAPI	Invitrogen, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, U.S.	P36935
rabbit anti mouse Laminin gamma 1 chain	Immundiagnostik, Bensheim, Germany	AP1001.1	No information about stock concentration
StemPro Accutase	Gibco, Life Technologies/Thermo Fisher Scientific, Massachusetts, U.S.	A1105-01
Sterile disposal scalpel (no. 15)	MedWare, Naples, U.S.	120920
Syringes 1 ml	BD Plastipak, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, U.S.	303172
Syringes 10 ml	BD Discardit II, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, U.S.	309110
T75 sterile cell culture flasks	Sarstedt AG & Co., Nümbrecht, Germany	833,911,302
Tissue-Tek O.C.T. Compound	Sakura Finetek, Torrance, U.S.	4583
Zeiss AxioObserver.Z1 Inverted Microscope with ApoTome Optical Sectioning	Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany