Migration, Chemo-Attraction, and Co-Culture Assays for Human Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells and GABAergic Neurons

Summary

We present three simple in vitro assays-the long-distance migration assay, the co-culture migration assay, and chemo-attraction assay-that collectively evaluate the functions of human stem cell derived periventricular endothelial cells and their interaction with GABAergic interneurons.

Abstract

Role of brain vasculature in nervous system development and etiology of brain disorders is increasingly gaining attention. Our recent studies have identified a special population of vascular cells, the periventricular endothelial cells, that play a critical role in the migration and distribution of forebrain GABAergic interneurons during embryonic development. This, coupled with their cell-autonomous functions, alludes to novel roles of periventricular endothelial cells in the pathology of neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, epilepsy, and autism. Here, we have described three different in vitro assays that collectively evaluate the functions of periventricular endothelial cells and their interaction with GABAergic interneurons. Use of these assays, particularly in a human context, will allow us to identify the link between periventricular endothelial cells and brain disorders. These assays are simple, low cost, and reproducible, and can be easily adapted to any adherent cell type.

Introduction

Endothelial cells form the lining of blood vessels and mediate important functions that include maintenance of vessel wall permeability, regulation of blood flow, platelet aggregation, and formation of new blood vessels. In the brain, endothelial cells form part of a critical blood-brain-barrier that tightly controls exchange of materials between the brain and the bloodstream¹. Our studies in the past decade have identified novel neurogenic roles of brain endothelial cells that have significant implications for brain development and behavior^2,3,4,....

Protocol

1. Culture and Storage of Human Periventricular Endothelial Cells

1. Maintain human periventricular endothelial cells on basement membrane matrix-coated (see Table of Materials) 6-well plates in periventricular endothelial cell medium (E6 medium containing 50 ng/mL VEGF-A, 100 ng/mL FGF2 and 5 µM GABA) at 37 °C and 5% CO₂. Change medium every alternate day.
2. Thaw basement membrane matrix in 4 °C, and make a 1:100 solution by diluting it in cold DMEM/F12 medium........

Discussion

Here, we described three in vitro assays that together provide quantitative assessment of human periventricular endothelial cell-specific properties. These assays will be valuable in gaining mechanistic insights into the interaction of human periventricular endothelial cells with human interneurons. Experiments using ligands, inhibitors, or cells with gene-specific knockdown or overexpression will identify or validate molecular players that mediate endothelial cell-guided interneuron migration or long-distance migratory .......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Accutase dissociation solution	Millipore Sigma	SCR005	Cell dissociation solution (for periventricular endothelial cells, step 1.4)
Anti-human β-Tubulin antibody	Biolegend	802001
Anti-human CD31 antibody	Millipore Sigma	CBL468
Anti- MAP2 antibody	Neuromics	CH22103
Anti-active Caspase 3 antibody	Millipore Sigma	AB3623
Control human endothelial cells	Cellular Dynamics	R1022
Control endothelial Cells Medium Supplement	Cellular Dynamics	M1019
Cryogenic vials	Fisher Scientific	03-337-7Y
DMEMF/12 medium	Thermofisher Scientific	11320033
DMSO	Sigma-Aldrich	D2650
E6 medium	Thermofisher Scientific	A1516401
FGF2	Thermofisher Scientific	PHG0261
Fibronectin	Thermofisher Scientific	33016-015
Freezing Container	Thermofisher Scientific	5100
GABA	Sigma-Aldrich	A2129
Hemacytometer	Sigma-Aldrich	Z359629
Human GABAergic neurons	Cellular Dynamics	R1013
Human GABAergic neurons base medium	Cellular Dynamics	M1010
Human GABAergic neuron Neural supplement	Cellular Dynamics	M1032
Laminin	Sigma	L2020
Matrigel	Corning	356230	Basement membrane matrix
Mounting Medium	Vector laboratories	H-1200
poly-L-ornithin	Sigma	p4957
PBS	Thermofisher Scientific	14190
Trypan blue	Thermofisher Scientific	15250061
TrypLE	Thermofisher Scientific	12563011	Cell dissociation solution (for GABAergic interneurons and endothelial cells, sections 3 and 4)
VEGF-A	Peprotech	100-20
VascuLife VEGF Medium Complete Kit	Lifeline Cell Technologies	LL-0003	Component of control human endothelial cell medium
2-well silicone culture-Insert	ibidi	80209
3-well silicone culture-Insert	ibidi	80369
35 mm dish	Corning	430165
15-ml conical tube	Fisher Scientific	07-200-886
4% PFA solution	Fisher Scientific	AAJ19943K2
6-well tissue culture plate	Fisher Scientific	14-832-11
Inverted phase contrast microscope	Zeiss	Zeiss Axiovert 40C
Fluorescent microscope	Olympus	FSX-100