Neural Stem Cell Reactivation in Cultured Drosophila Brain Explants

Summary

A method to reactivate quiescent neural stem cells in cultured Drosophila brain explants has been established. Using this method, the role of systemic signals can be uncoupled from tissue-intrinsic signals in the regulation of neural stem cell quiescence, entry and exit.

Abstract

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to proliferate, differentiate, undergo apoptosis, and even enter and exit quiescence. Many of these processes are controlled by the complex interplay between NSC intrinsic genetic programs with NSC extrinsic factors, local and systemic. In the genetic model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, NSCs, known as neuroblasts (NBs), switch from quiescence to proliferation during the embryonic to larval transition. During this time, larvae emerge from their eggshells and begin crawling, seeking out dietary nutrients. In response to animal feeding, the fat body, an endocrine organ with lipid storage capacity, produces a signal, which is released systemically into the circulating hemolymph. In response to the fat body-derived signal (FBDS), Drosophila insulin-like peptides (Dilps) are produced and released from brain neurosecretory neurons and glia, leading to downstream activation of PI3-kinase growth signaling in NBs and their glial and tracheal niche. Although this is the current model for how NBs switch from quiescence to proliferation, the nature of the FBDS extrinsic cue remains elusive. To better understand how NB extrinsic systemic cues regulate exit from quiescence, a method was developed to culture early larval brains in vitro before animal feeding. With this method, exogenous factors can be supplied to the culture media and NB exit from quiescence assayed. We found that exogenous insulin is sufficient to reactivate NBs from quiescence in whole-brain explants. Because this method is well-suited for large-scale screens, we aim to identify additional extrinsic cues that regulate NB quiescence versus proliferation decisions. Because the genes and pathways that regulate NSC proliferation decisions are evolutionarily conserved, results from this assay could provide insight into improving regenerative therapies in the clinic.

Introduction

Stem cells are of great interest because of their potential for use in regenerative medicine^1,2. Many animals, especially those that are long-lived, maintain stem cells within their adult tissues. These resident stem cells function to maintain tissue homeostasis and are utilized for repair following physical injury or disease^3,4. Most stem cells in adult animals are quiescent, a relatively dormant state characterized by cell cycle arrest and inactivation of growth signaling⁵. In response to extrinsic cues, stem cells exit from q....

Protocol

1. Drosophila larvae collection

NOTE: Prepare the yeast plate, grape paste, and the Fly condo before starting:

1. Yeast paste: In a small container, mix 5 g of active dry yeast with 10 mL of water to form a paste that has the consistency of peanut butter. Cover the yeast paste with plastic wrap and use a rubber band to firmly attach it to the container.
   NOTE: Fresh yeast paste will expand in its container and will pop off the lid unless firmly attached.......

Discussion

The method described here to culture brain explants can be carried out in most lab environments. The tools required, as well as the procedure and data collection, are simple and straightforward. With this method, one can test a variety of hypotheses, including those related to the cell signaling cascades and extrinsic factors that regulate NB reactivation and proliferation. Here, using wild-type OregonR animals, we found that exogenous insulin was sufficient to reactivate NBs from quiescence independent of other animal-s.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
10 µL Pipette tips	Denville Sci	P2102
1000 µL Pipette tips	Denville Sci	P2103-N
1000 µL Pipettor	Gilson	P1000
16% paraformaldehyde (10 x 10 mL)	Electron Microscopy Sciences	2912.60.0000	Used for Fixation of Larval Brains
20 µL Pipette	Gilson	P20
200 µL Pipette tips	Gilson	P200
200 µL Pipette tips	Denville Sci	1158U56
24-well multiwell culture plates	Fisher Scientific	50-197-4477
35 mm Petri dishes	Fisher Scientific	08-757-100A	Grape Plate Ingredients
4 °C refrigerator	Fisher Scientific		Provides an ideal temperature for >24 h incubations in antibody solution
63x Objective	Lecia
Active dry yeast	Most supermarkets
Agarose	Fisher Scientific	214010	Grape Plate Ingredients
Click-iT EdU Cell Proliferation Kit for Imaging, Alexa Fluor 647 dye	Thermo Fisher Scientific	C10340	to label proliferating cells
Confocal Microscope	Leica	SP8
Coverslips 22 mm x 22 mm x 1 mm , 10 pack of 4 oz	Fisher Scientific	12-544-10	Two Coverslips are super glued to the ends of the microscope slide. This creates a space that allows for the brains to float in antifade while being imaged.
Coverslips, 22 mm x 50 mm x 1 mm	Fisher Scientific	12-545E	The coverslip is placed on two square coverslips on the microscope slide ensuring that the brain in the antifade does not move while imaging.
Dissecting microscope	Zeiss	Stemi 2000
Ethanol 200 proof (100%), Decon Labs, 1 gallon bottle	Fisher Scientific	2701	Used to wash off the larvae before the 24 hr hold in culture medium
Fetal Bovine Serum (10%)	Sigma	F4135-100ML	Supplement for cell culture media.
Fine forceps for dissection	Fine Science Tools	11295-20	Forcepts used in disections. They work best when sharpened.
Fly Bottles for Crossing	Genessee Scientific	32-130	This bottle is used as a container that lets the flies lay eggs on the grape plate.
Glass Dissection Dish (3 well)	These are no longer available
Glutathione	Sigma	G6013	Provides oxidative protection during cell culture.
Goat Serum	Sigma	G9023- 10ML	Blocking Agent
Grape Plates	Made in house	Made in house	Grape juice/agarose plates for collecting freshly hatched eggs
Image J	Imagej.net/fiji/downloads	Free Download:  https://fiji.sc	Imaging platform that is used to count cells and Edu reactivation
Incubator	Thermo Fisher Scientific		Ensures that the temperature, humidity, and light exposure is exactly the same throughout experiment.
Insulin	Sigma	I0516	Independant variable of the experiment
Laminar flow hood			For aliquoting culture media
L-Glutamine	Sigma	G7513	Provides support during cell culture
Nunc 72-well Microwell Mini Trays	Fisher Scientific	12-565-154	Immunostaining steps are performed in this tray
Parafilm	Fisher Scientific	S37440	Film used to seal plates in order to prevent evaporation
Pen-Strep	Sigma	P4458-100ml	Antibiodics used to prevent bacterial contamination of cells during culture.
Phosphate Buffer, pH7.4	Made in house	Made in house	Solvent used to wash the brains after fixing and staining steps
Pick	Fine Science Tools	10140-01	Used to pick larvae off of the grape plate
Propionic acid	Fisher Scientific	A-258	Grape Plate Ingredients
Rabbit 405	Abcam	ab175653	Antibodies used for immunostaining
Rat 555	Abcam	ab150166	Antibodies used for immunostaining
Rb Scribble	A Gift from Chris Doe		Antibodies used for immunostaining
Rt Deadpan	Abcam	ab195173	Antibodies used for immunostaining
Schneiders Culture Medium	Life Tech	21720024	Contains nutrients that help the cells grow and proliferate
SlowFade Diamond Antifade (5 x 2 mL)	Life Tech	S36963	Reagent that provides protection against fading fluorophores
Sterile Water	Autoclave Milli-Q water made in house		Needed for Solutions
Sucrose	Fisher	S2-12	Grape Plate Ingredients
Superfrost Microscope Slides	Fisher Scientific	12-544-7
Superglue	Most supermarkets
Tegosept	Genesee Scientific	20-259	Grape Plate Ingredients
Triton-X 100	Sigma	T9284-100ML	PBT
Welch's 100% grape grape juice	Most supermarkets		Grape Plate Ingredients