Revealing the Ferroptotic Phenotype of Medulloblastoma

Summary

Lipid hydroperoxide content represents the most commonly used indicator of ferroptotic cell death. This article demonstrates the step-by-step flow cytometry analysis of lipid hydroperoxide content in cells upon ferroptosis induction.

Abstract

The interaction of iron and oxygen is an integral part of the development of life on Earth. Nonetheless, this unique chemistry continues to fascinate and puzzle, leading to new biological ventures. In 2012, a Columbia University group recognized this interaction as a central event leading to a new type of regulated cell death named "ferroptosis." The major feature of ferroptosis is the accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides due to (1) dysfunctional antioxidant defense and/or (2) overwhelming oxidative stress, which most frequently coincides with increased content of free labile iron in the cell. This is normally prevented by the canonical anti-ferroptotic axis comprising the cystine transporter xCT, glutathione (GSH), and GSH peroxidase 4 (GPx4). Since ferroptosis is not a programmed type of cell death, it does not involve signaling pathways characteristic of apoptosis. The most common way to prove this type of cell death is by using lipophilic antioxidants (vitamin E, ferrostatin-1, etc.) to prevent it. These molecules can approach and detoxify oxidative damage in the plasma membrane. Another important aspect in revealing the ferroptotic phenotype is detecting the preceding accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides, for which the specific dye BODIPY C11 is used. The present manuscript will show how ferroptosis can be induced in wild-type medulloblastoma cells by using different inducers: erastin, RSL3, and iron-donor. Similarly, the xCT-KO cells that grow in the presence of NAC, and which undergo ferroptosis once NAC is removed, will be used. The characteristic "bubbling" phenotype is visible under the light microscope within 12-16 h from the moment of ferroptosis triggering. Furthermore, BODIPY C11 staining followed by FACS analysis to show the accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides and consequent cell death using the PI staining method will be used. To prove the ferroptotic nature of cell death, ferrostatin-1 will be used as a specific ferroptosis-preventing agent.

Introduction

Ferroptosis is a newly contextualized, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent type of cell death¹. Besides ROS, iron plays a crucial role(s) in this type of cell death, hence the name². The final and executive step of ferroptosis is the iron-catalyzed accumulation of oxidative damage of lipids in the plasma membrane that eventually leads to compromised membrane integrity and selective permeability, and, finally, cell death by bubbling. Lipid hydroperoxidation event is a naturally occurring phenomenon; however, its propagation throughout the cellular membrane is prevented by the antioxidant defense of the cell. The major....

Protocol

The present study was conducted using DAOY wild-type (WT) medulloblastoma cell lines, which were cultured at 37 °C with 5% CO₂ in DMEM medium supplemented with 8% FBS. The xCT-deleted cell line was maintained under the same conditions, with experiments carried out in media supplemented with 1 mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC). The cells were regularly screened for mycoplasma using a commercially available Mycoplasma Detection Kit (see Table of Materials) and were cultured up to the 10^th

Discussion

The primary hallmark of ferroptotic cell death is the uncontrolled accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides in the plasma membrane. This oxidative damage may occur in an enzymatic or non-enzymatic manner, but in either case, the reaction is iron-dependent/catalyzed, which explains the name of this type of cell death. Lipid hydroperoxidation is often indirectly estimated by measuring the degradation products of lipid hydroperoxidation, such as 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal (4-HNE) or malonaldehyde (MDA). These products, generat.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
BODIPY 581/591 C11	Thermo Fisher	D3861
Cell counter	Beckman	Coulter Z1
DMEM medium	Gibco	10569010
Erastin	Sigma-Aldrich	E7781-5MG
Ferroamminium citrate	Acros Organics	211842500
Ferrostatin-1	Sigma-Aldrich	SML0583-25MG
Fetal bovin serum (FBS)	Dominique Dutcher	500105N1N
Flow Cytometer	BD Biosciences	FACS Melody
Gibco StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent	Thermo Fisher	11599686
N-acetylcysteine	Sigma-Aldrich	A7250
PlasmoTest Mycoplasma Detection Kit	InvivoGen	rep-pt1
propidium iodide	Invitrogen	P3566
RSL3	Sigma-Aldrich	SML2234-25MG
Trypsin - EDTA 10X - 100 mL	Dominique Dutcher	X0930-100