Sign In

A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.

In This Article

  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Protocol
  • Representative Results
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Materials
  • References
  • Reprints and Permissions

Summary

The protocol describes the isolation, culture, and profiling of endothelial cells from human mesenteric artery. Additionally, a method is provided to prepare human artery for spatial transcriptomics. Proteomics, transcriptomics, and functional assays can be performed on isolated cells. This protocol can be repurposed for any medium- or large-size artery.

Abstract

Endothelial cells (ECs) are crucial for vascular and whole-body function through their dynamic response to environmental cues. Elucidating the transcriptome and epigenome of ECs is paramount to understanding their roles in development, health, and disease, but is limited in the availability of isolated primary cells. Recent technologies have enabled the high-throughput profiling of EC transcriptome and epigenome, leading to the identification of previously unknown EC cell subpopulations and developmental trajectories. While EC cultures are a useful tool in the exploration of EC function and dysfunction, the culture conditions and multiple passages can introduce external variables that alter the properties of native EC, including morphology, epigenetic state, and gene expression program. To overcome this limitation, the present paper demonstrates a method of isolating human primary ECs from donor mesenteric arteries aiming to capture their native state. ECs in the intimal layer are dissociated mechanically and biochemically with the use of particular enzymes. The resultant cells can be directly used for bulk RNA or single-cell RNA-sequencing or plated for culture. In addition, a workflow is described for the preparation of human arterial tissue for spatial transcriptomics, specifically for a commercially available platform, although this method is also suitable for other spatial transcriptome profiling techniques. This methodology can be applied to different vessels collected from a variety of donors in health or disease states to gain insights into EC transcriptional and epigenetic regulation, a pivotal aspect of endothelial cell biology.

Introduction

Lining the lumen of blood vessels, endothelial cells (ECs) are crucial regulators of vascular tone and tissue perfusion. ECs are remarkable in their ability to react to the extracellular environment and adapt to changes in the dynamics and composition of blood flow. These dynamic responses are mediated through a network of intracellular signaling events, including transcriptional and post-transcriptional modulations with spatio-temporal resolution. The dysregulation of these responses is implicated in many pathologies, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer1,2.

Protocol

Human tissue studies were conducted on deidentified specimens obtained from the Southern California Islet Cell Resource Center at City of Hope. The research consents for the use of postmortem human tissues were obtained from the donors' next of kin, and ethical approval for this study was granted by the Institutional Review Board of City of Hope (IRB No. 01046).

1. Physical dissociation (estimated time: 1-2 h)

  1. Place a fresh artery on a 10 cm dish and wash with .......

Representative Results

The analysis of ECs from mesenteric artery using a combination of mechanical and enzymatical dissociation or cryopreservation for use in various downstream assays is depicted here (Figure 1). ECs can be profiled in mesenteric arteries using the following steps: A) mechanical dissociation from the intima coupled with collagenase digestion to culture cells; B) generation of single-cell suspension for scRNA-seq; or C) cross-sections of the artery can be embedded in OCT to be cryosectioned to pr.......

Discussion

The presented workflow details a set of techniques to profile ECs from a single piece of human artery with single-cell and spatial resolution. There are several critical steps and limiting factors in the protocol. One key to transcriptome profiling is the freshness of the tissue and RNA integrity. It is important to maintain tissues on ice as much as possible prior to processing to minimize RNA degradation. Typically, the post-mortem tissues are processed between 8-14 h after the time of death. However, beginning the iso.......

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NIH grants R01HL108735, R01HL145170, R01HL106089 (to Z.B.C.); DP1DK126138 and DP1HD087990 (to S.Z.); an Ella Fitzgerald Foundation grant and a Wanek Family Project (to Z.B.C.); and a Human Cell Atlas seed network grant (to Z.B.C. and S.Z.). Research reported in this publication included work performed in the Integrative Genomics Core at City of Hope supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number P30CA033572. The authors would like to thank Dr. Ismail Al-Abdullah and Dr. Meirigeng Qi of the islet transplantation team at City of Hope for isolation of human tissues, Dr. Dongqiang Yuan at City ....

Materials

NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
1.5 mL micro-centrifuge tubeUSA Scientific1615-5500
10 cm dishGenesee Scientific25-202
23G needlesBD305145
2-methylbutaneThermo FisherAC327270010
40 µm strainerFisher14100150
4200 TapeStation SystemAgilent TechnologiesG2991BA
5 mL tubeThermo Fisher14282300
6-well plateGreiner Bio-One07-000-208
Attachment factorCell Applications123-500Attachment reagent in the protocol
Black waxAny commercial black wax can be used
Bovine serum albumin heat shock treatedFisherBP1600-100
CaCl2FisherBP510
CentrifugeEppendorf
ChloroformFisherC607
Collagenase DRoche11088866001
CryostatLeica
Cryostat brushes
D-GlucoseFisherD16-1
Dimethyl sulfoxideFisherMT25950CQC
Dispase IIRoche4942078001Bacteria-derived protease in the protocol
Disposable Safety ScalpelsMyco Instrumentation6008TR-10
D-PBSThermo Fisher14080055
EthanolFisherBP2818-4
Fetal bovine serumFisher10437028
HemocytometerFisher267110
HEPESSigma AldrichH3375-100g
High sensitivity D1000 sample bufferAgilent Technologies5067-5603
High sensitivity D1000 screen tapeAgilent Technologies5067-5584
IncubatorKept at 37 °C 5% CO2
IsopropanolFisherBP26324
KClFisherP217-3
Liquid nitrogen
Medium 199Sigma AldrichM2520-10X
Metal cannister
MicroscopeLeicaTo assess cell morphology
Microvascular endothelial culture mediumCell Applications111-500
NaClFisherS271-1
New Brunswick Innova 44/44R Orbital shakerEppendorf
Optimal Cutting Temperature compoundFisher4585
Plastic cryomoldsFisher22363553
RNA screen tapeAgilent Technologies5067-5576
RNA screen Tape sample bufferAgilent Technologies5067-5577
RNase ZAPThermo FisherAM9780
RNase-free waterTakaraRR036BRNase-free water (2) in kit
Sterile 12" long forcepsF.S.T91100-16
Sterile fine forcepsF.S.T11050-10
Sterile fine scissorsF.S.T14061-11
Superfrost PLUS Gold SlidesFisher1518848
TRIzol reagentFisher15596018
Trypan BlueCorningMT25900CI
TrypLE Express Enzyme (1X) phenol redThermo Fisher12605010Cell-dissociation enzyme in the protocol
Visium Accessory Kit10X GenomicsPN-1000215
Visium Gateway Package, 2rxns10X GenomicsPN-1000316
Visium Spatial Gene Expression Slide & Reagent Kit, 4 rxns10X GenomicsPN-1000184

References

  1. Thorin, E., Shreeve, S. M. Heterogeneity of vascular endothelial cells in normal and disease states. Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 78 (3), 155-166 (1998).
  2. Deanfield, J. E., Halcox, J. P., Rabelink, T. J. Endothel....

Explore More Articles

Endothelial CellsMesenteric ArteryTranscriptomeSingle cellSpatial ResolutionDiabetesObesityCryostat SectioningCell IsolationDigestion BufferCell Culture

This article has been published

Video Coming Soon

JoVE Logo

Privacy

Terms of Use

Policies

Research

Education

ABOUT JoVE

Copyright © 2024 MyJoVE Corporation. All rights reserved