Isolation, In Vitro Expansion, and Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Mouse Epididymal Adipose Tissue

Summary

The adipose tissue is an excellent source of mesenchymal stem cells. Here, we bring the step-by-step extraction, cultivation, and characterization of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) from Swiss mice epididymal adipose tissue.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively studied as a new therapeutic approach, mainly to stop exacerbated inflammation due to their potential to modulate the immune response. The MSCs are immune-privileged cells capable of surviving in immunologically incompatible allogeneic transplant recipients based on low expression of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and in the use of cell-based therapy for allogeneic transplant. These cells can be isolated from several tissues, the most commonly used being the bone marrow and adipose tissues. We provide an easy protocol to isolate, culture, and characterize MSCs from epididymal adipose tissue of mice. The epididymal adipose tissue is surgically excised, physically fragmented, and digested with 0.15% collagenase type II solution. Then, primary adipose tissue-derived stem (ADSCs) cells are cultured and expanded in vitro, and the phenotypic characterization is performed by flow cytometry. We also provide the steps to differentiate the ADSCs into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic cells, followed by functional characterization of each cell lineage. The protocol provided here can be used for in vivo and ex vivo experiments, and as an alternative, the adipose-derived stem cells can be used to generate MSCs-like immortalized cells.

Introduction

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult multipotential cells differentiating into cells such as osteoblast, chondroblast, and adipocyte^1,2. These cells reside in several organs, and because of that, they can be extracted from adult tissues such as bone marrow, muscle, fat, hair follicle, tooth root, placenta, dermis, perichondrium, umbilical cord, lung, liver, and spleen^3,4.

The effects of MSCs on physiology and the immune system have been reported^5,6....

Protocol

All animal experiments were conducted according to international guidelines for animal ethics and were approved by institutional committees of care and use from the State University of Santa Cruz under protocol number 021/22. Swiss male mice (6-8 weeks) were acquired from the Animal Breeding, Maintenance and Experimentation Laboratory - State University of Santa Cruz (LaBIO-UESC) Animal Research Facility, maintained in specific pathogen-free conditions, receiving water and food ad libitum with 12 h light/dark cycles.

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Discussion

The MSCs can be extracted from different tissues. Despite bone marrow representing a common source of MSCs in both murine and humans^25,26, we have chosen to work with adipose tissue in this study because of its richness in MSCs, distribution in the body, and ease of accessing it. As an alternative, adipose-derived stem cells can be used to generate MSCs-like immortalized cells²⁷.

Some points of the extraction d.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
140 °C High Heat Sterilization CO2 Incubator	RADOBIO SCIENTIFIC CO. LTD, China	C180
3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	I7018
Acetic acid glacial	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	PHR1748
Alcian Blue 8GX	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	A9186	BioReagent, suitable for detection of glycoproteins. 1% in acetic acid, pH 2.5
Alcohol 70%	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	65350-M	70% in water
Amphotericin B	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	PHR1662
Antibodies anti-mouse anti-CD29 FITC (Clone Ha2/5)	BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA	555005	Functions in the cell: Adhesion and activation, embryogenesis, Leukocytes, DC, platelets, mast cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells
Antibodies anti-mouse anti-CD34 PE (Clone RAM34)	BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA	551387	Functions in the cell: Cell adhesion factor. Hematopoietic stem cells
Antibodies anti-mouse anti-CD45 APC (Clone 30-F11)	BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA	559864	Functions in the cell: Assists in the activation of leukocytes
Antibodies anti-mouse anti-CD71 FITC (Clone C2)	BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA	553266	Functions in the cell: Controls iron uptake during cell proliferation. Proliferating cells, reticulocytes and precursors
Antibodies anti-mouse anti-CD90 PerCP (Clone OX-7)	BD Biosciences, San Diego, CA, USA	557266	Functions in the cell: Signaling, adhesion. T lymphocyte, NK, monocyte, HSC, neuron, fibroblast
Ascorbic acid	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	PHR1008
Automatic pipettes	Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA	4700850N	Finnpipette F1 Good Laboratory Pipetting (GLP) Kits
Beaker	Not applicable		1 unit
Bovine serum albumin	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	A7906
Cell culture plates (6-well)	Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	Z707759	07 units sterile. TPP tissue culture plates
Cell culture plates (96-well. Round or V bottom)	Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	CLS353077	01 unit sterile. Wells, 96, Tissue Culture (TC)-treated surface, round bottom clear wells, sterile
Chondrogenic medium	Stem Pro Chondrogenesis Differentiation–Life Technologies	A1007101	TGF-β2, TGF-β3, dexamethasone, insulin, transferrin, ITS, sodium-l - ascorbate, sodium pyruvate, ascorbate-2-phosphate
Collagenase type II	Life Technologies, California, USA	17101015
cork or styrofoam board covered with aluminum	Not applicable		1 unit
cotton	Not applicable		50 g
Dexamethasone	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	D4902
Dissecting scissor	Not applicable		03 units sterile
DPX Mountant for histology	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	6522
Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM)	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	D5523	With 1000 mg/L glucose and L-glutamine, without sodium bicarbonate, powder, suitable for cell culture
Eosin B	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	861006
Fetal bovine serum (FBS)	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	F4135
Formaldehyde	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	47608
Formalin	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	HT501128
Gentamicin	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	G1397
Hematoxylin	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	H3136
Hypodermic Needle (0.3mm x 13mm)	Not applicable		5 units
Indomethacin	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	I0200000
Insulin	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	I3536
Isopropanol	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	563935	70% in H2O
Ketamine-D4 hydrochloride solution	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	K-006	1.0 mg/mL in methanol (as free base), certified reference material, Cerilliant®
Neubauer chamber	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	BR718620	BRAND counting chamber BLAUBRAND Neubauer pattern. With clips, double ruled
Nichiryo pipette tips (0.1–10 μL)	Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	Z645540	Volume range 0.1–10 μL, elongated, bulk pack. Sterile
Nichiryo pipette tips (1–10 mL)	Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	Z717401	Volume range 1–10 mL, universal, bulk pack. Sterile
Nichiryo pipette tips (200 μL)	Merck, Darmstadt, Germany	Z645516	Maximum volume 200 μL, graduated, ministack. Sterile
Oil-Red O solution	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	O1391	0.5% in isopropanol
Paraffin	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	107.151	46–48, in block form
Penicillin/Streptomycin	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	P4333	Solution stabilized, with 10,000 units penicillin and 10 mg streptomycin/mL, 0.1 μm filtered, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture
Phosphate-buffered saline solution 1x (PBS).	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	P3813	Powder, pH 7.4, for preparing 1 L solutions. Balanced and sterile
Polypropylene conical tubes (15 mL)	Falcon, Fisher Scientific	14-959-53A	Sterile
Polypropylene conical tubes (50 mL)	Falcon, Fisher Scientific	14-432-22	2 units sterile
scalpel (optional)	Not applicable		1 unit
Silver nitrate	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	85228
Sodium thiosulfate	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	72049
Surgical tweezer (15 cm)	Not applicable		3 units sterile
Swiss male mice (6–8 weeks)	Bioterium, Santa Cruz State University	021/22
syringe (1 mL)	Not applicable		1 unit
Trypan Blue Dye	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	T8154	0.4%, liquid, sterile-filtered, suitable for cell culture
Trypsin/EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	T3924
Xylazine	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	PHR3263
β-glycerophosphate disodium salt hydrate	Sigma-Aldrich, San Luis, Missouri, USA	G9422	BioUltra, suitable for cell culture, suitable for plant cell culture, ≥99% (titration)