Laser Capture Microdissection of Glioma Subregions for Spatial and Molecular Characterization of Intratumoral Heterogeneity, Oncostreams, and Invasion

Summary

Laser microdissection (LMD) is a sensitive and highly reproducible technique that can be used to uncover pathways that mediate glioma heterogeneity and invasion. Here, we describe an optimized protocol to isolate discrete areas from glioma tissue using laser LMD followed by transcriptomic analysis.

Abstract

Gliomas are primary brain tumors characterized by their invasiveness and heterogeneity. Specific histological patterns such as pseudopalisades, microvascular proliferation, mesenchymal transformation and necrosis characterize the histological heterogeneity of high-grade gliomas. Our laboratory has demonstrated that the presence of high densities of mesenchymal cells, named oncostreams, correlate with tumor malignancy. We have developed a unique approach to understand the mechanisms that underlie glioma's growth and invasion. Here, we describe a comprehensive protocol that utilizes laser capture microdissection (LMD) and RNA sequencing to analyze differential mRNA expression of intra-tumoral heterogeneous multicellular structures (i.e., mesenchymal areas or areas of tumor invasion). This method maintains good tissue histology and RNA integrity. Perfusion, freezing, embedding, sectioning, and staining were optimized to preserve morphology and obtain high-quality laser microdissection samples. The results indicate that perfusion of glioma bearing mice using 30% sucrose provides good morphology and RNA quality. In addition, staining tumor sections with 4% Cresyl violet and 0.5% eosin results in good nuclear and cellular staining, while preserving RNA integrity. The method described is sensitive and highly reproducible and it can be utilized to study tumor morphology in various tumor models. In summary, we describe a complete method to perform LMD that preserves morphology and RNA quality for sequencing to study the molecular features of heterogeneous multicellular structures within solid tumors.

Introduction

Gliomas are the most aggressive primary tumors of the central nervous system. They are highly invasive and heterogeneous¹. Analysis of cellular and molecular components of the tumor will reveal novel therapeutic targets.

Among different methods currently available, laser capture microdissection (LMD) of frozen brain tumor tissue is a cost-effective, reliable technique that allows the isolation of discrete anatomical areas or specific cell populations from tumor tissues to study their molecular profile^2,3. LMD allows the analysis of mRNA gene expression profil....

Protocol

All methods described here that use experimental animals have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the University of Michigan.

NOTE: Glioma neurospheres generated from a GEMM or stable lines can be used for intracranial tumor engraftment in mice¹⁰ and processed for LMD and RNA sequencing. These cells constitutively express firefly luciferase and GFP proteins, which will be further utilized for tumor growth analysis and localization.......

Discussion

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying glioma heterogeneity and invasion are of critical importance to uncover novel therapeutic targets¹³. In this manuscript, we describe a detailed and optimized method to analyze the molecular landscape of glioma heterogeneity and invasion using laser capture microdissection (LMD) followed by transcriptomic analysis.

Laser capture microdissection (LMD) can be used to identify different areas or single cells within the tumor.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Accutase Cell Detachment Solution	Biolegend	423201
Animal-Free Recombinant Human EGF	Peprotech	AF-100-15
Antibiotic-Antimycotic (100X)	Gibco	15240062
B-27 Supplement (50X), serum free	Gibco	17504044
Buffer RLT	Qiagen	79216
Corning PCR Tubes	Sigma Aldrich	CLS6530
Cresyl Violet Acetate	Sigma Aldrich	C5042
DMEM/F12 - Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium: Nutrient Mixture F-12	Gibco	11330057
Eosin Y	Sigma Aldrich	E4009
HiSeq 4000	Illumina	N/A
Laser Microdissection (LMD) System	Leica	LMD7000
N-2 Supplement (100X)	Gibco	17502048
Normocin - Antimicrobial Reagent	Invivogen	ant-nr-1
Peel Away Disposable Embedding Molds	Electron Microscopy Sciences	70182
PEN Membrane Glass Slide (2 µm)	Lieca	1150518
Pinpoint Solution	Zymo Research	D3001-1
Recombinant Human FGF-basic	Peprotech	100-18B-1MG
Research Cryostat	Leica	CM3050s
RNaseZap RNase Decontamination Solution	Fisher Scientific	AM9780
RNeasy Plus Micro Kit	Qiagen	74034
SMARTer Stranded Total RNA-Seq Kit v2 - Pico Input Mammalian	Takara Bio	634411
Tissue-Plus O.C.T. Compound	Fisher Scientific	23-730-571