We deeply appreciate Dr. Takeshi Ikeya and technical staff&#160;in Toyo Gosei, Tokyo, Japan for providing thermosensitive micropatterned culture plates as well as scientific advice. We also thank Ms. Satomi Ogura, Ms. Sae Suzuki,&#160;Ms. Asuka Miyoshi and Ms. Katsue Morii for technical assistance with animal experiments. This work was financially supported in part by the JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, the Center of Innovation (COI) Program and the S- innovation program from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and the JSPS Core-to-Core Program, A. Advanced Research Networks.

All the animal studies were conducted with the approval of the Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
1. Cell Preparation
<ol>
	<li>For primary hepatocytes, follow the protocol for hepatocyte isolation from rat by a modified two-step collagenase digestion process13,14.
	<ol>
		<li>Anesthetize Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (male, 5 weeks old) under inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane. Place a rat in a chamber connected to an anesthesia machine to provi...

<ol>
	<li>Landry, J., Bernier, D., Ouellet, C., Goyette, R., Marceau, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spheroidal+aggregate+culture+of+rat+liver+cells:+histotypic+reorganization,+biomatrix+deposition,+and+maintenance+of+functional+activities.">Spheroidal aggregate culture of rat liver cells: histotypic reorganization, biomatrix deposition, and maintenance of functional activities.</a> J Cell Biol. 101 (3), 914-923 (1985).</li><li>Yuasa, C., Tomita, Y., Shono, M., Ishimura, K., Ichihara, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Importance+of+cell+aggregation+for+expression+of+liver+functions+and+regeneration+demonstrated+with+primary+cultured+hepatocytes.">Importance of cell aggregation for expression of liver functions and regeneration demonstrated with primary cultured hepatocytes.</a> J Cell Physiol. 156 (3), 522-530 (1993).</li><li>Otsuka, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Two-dimensional+multiarray+formation+of+hepatocyte+spheroids+on+a+microfabricated+PEG-brush+surface.">Two-dimensional multiarray formation of hepatocyte spheroids on a microfabricated PEG-brush surface.</a> Chembiochem. 5 (6), 850-855 (2004).</li><li>Wang, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=3D+spheroid+culture+system+on+micropatterned+substrates+for+improved+differentiation+efficiency+of+multipotent+mesenchymal+stem+cells.">3D spheroid culture system on micropatterned substrates for improved differentiation efficiency of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells.</a> Biomaterials. 30 (14), 2705-2715 (2009).</li><li>Bartosh, T. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Aggregation+of+human+mesenchymal+stromal+cells+(MSCs)+into+3D+spheroids+enhances+their+antiinflammatory+properties.">Aggregation of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) into 3D spheroids enhances their antiinflammatory properties.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 107 (31), 13724-13729 (2010).</li><li>Frith, J. E., Thomson, B., Genever, P. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynamic+three-dimensional+culture+methods+enhance+mesenchymal+stem+cell+properties+and+increase+therapeutic+potential.">Dynamic three-dimensional culture methods enhance mesenchymal stem cell properties and increase therapeutic potential.</a> Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 16 (4), 735-749 (2010).</li><li>Nakasone, Y., Yamamoto, M., Tateishi, T., Otsuka, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hepatocyte+spheroids+underlayered+with+nonparenchymal+cells+for+biomedical+applications.">Hepatocyte spheroids underlayered with nonparenchymal cells for biomedical applications.</a> IEICE Transactions on Electronics. E94, 176-180 (2011).</li><li>Nishida, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Corneal+reconstruction+with+tissue-engineered+cell+sheets+composed+of+autologous+oral+mucosal+epithelium.">Corneal reconstruction with tissue-engineered cell sheets composed of autologous oral mucosal epithelium.</a> N Engl J Med. 351 (12), 1187-1196 (2004).</li><li>Ohashi, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+functional+two-+and+three-dimensional+liver+systems+in+vivo+using+hepatic+tissue+sheets.">Engineering functional two- and three-dimensional liver systems in vivo using hepatic tissue sheets.</a> Nat Med. 13 (7), 880-885 (2007).</li><li>Sekine, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cardiac+cell+sheet+transplantation+improves+damaged+heart+function+via+superior+cell+survival+in+comparison+with+dissociated+cell+injection.">Cardiac cell sheet transplantation improves damaged heart function via superior cell survival in comparison with dissociated cell injection.</a> Tissue Eng Part A. 17 (23-24), 2973-2980 (2011).</li><li>Itaka, K., Kataoka, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Progress+and+prospects+of+polyplex+nanomicelles+for+plasmid+DNA+delivery.">Progress and prospects of polyplex nanomicelles for plasmid DNA delivery.</a> Curr Gene Ther. 11 (6), 457-465 (2011).</li><li>Endo, T., Itaka, K., Shioyama, M., Uchida, S., Kataoka, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gene+transfection+to+spheroid+culture+system+on+micropatterned+culture+plate+by+polyplex+nanomicelle:+a+novel+platform+of+genetically-modified+cell+transplantation.">Gene transfection to spheroid culture system on micropatterned culture plate by polyplex nanomicelle: a novel platform of genetically-modified cell transplantation.</a> Drug Deliv and Transl Res. 2 (5), 398-405 (2012).</li><li>Howard, R. B., Christensen, A. K., Gibbs, F. A., Pesch, L. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+enzymatic+preparation+of+isolated+intact+parenchymal+cells+from+rat+liver.">The enzymatic preparation of isolated intact parenchymal cells from rat liver.</a> J Cell Biol. 35 (3), 675-684 (1967).</li><li>Berry, M. N., Friend, D. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-yield+preparation+of+isolated+rat+liver+parenchymal+cells:+a+biochemical+and+fine+structural+study.">High-yield preparation of isolated rat liver parenchymal cells: a biochemical and fine structural study.</a> J Cell Biol. 43 (3), 506-520 (1969).</li><li>Tateno, C., Yoshizato, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Long-term+cultivation+of+adult+rat+hepatocytes+that+undergo+multiple+cell+divisions+and+express+normal+parenchymal+phenotypes.">Long-term cultivation of adult rat hepatocytes that undergo multiple cell divisions and express normal parenchymal phenotypes.</a> Am J Pathol. 148 (2), 383-392 (1996).</li><li>Kanayama, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+PEG-based+biocompatible+block+catiomer+with+high+buffering+capacity+for+the+construction+of+polyplex+micelles+showing+efficient+gene+transfer+toward+primary+cells.">A PEG-based biocompatible block catiomer with high buffering capacity for the construction of polyplex micelles showing efficient gene transfer toward primary cells.</a> ChemMedChem. 1 (4), 439-444 (2006).</li><li>Itaka, K., Ishii, T., Hasegawa, Y., Kataoka, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Biodegradable+polyamino+acid-based+polycations+as+safe+and+effective+gene+carrier+minimizing+cumulative+toxicity.">Biodegradable polyamino acid-based polycations as safe and effective gene carrier minimizing cumulative toxicity.</a> Biomaterials. 31 (13), 3707-3714 (2010).</li><li>Uchida, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PEGylated+Polyplex+With+Optimized+PEG+Shielding+Enhances+Gene+Introduction+in+Lungs+by+Minimizing+Inflammatory+Responses.">PEGylated Polyplex With Optimized PEG Shielding Enhances Gene Introduction in Lungs by Minimizing Inflammatory Responses.</a> Mol Ther. 20 (6), 1196-1203 (2012).</li><li>Golde, W. T., Gollobin, P., Rodriguez, L. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+rapid,+simple,+and+humane+method+for+submandibular+bleeding+of+mice+using+a+lancet.">A rapid, simple, and humane method for submandibular bleeding of mice using a lancet.</a> Lab Anim (NY). 34, 39-43 (2005).</li><li>Uchida, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+injectable+spheroid+system+with+genetic+modification+for+cell+transplantation+therapy.">An injectable spheroid system with genetic modification for cell transplantation therapy.</a> Biomaterials. 35 (8), 2499-2506 (2014).</li></ol>

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

In this protocol, it is critical to maintain the 3D structure of spheroids during the steps of gene introduction and spheroid recovery. It is essential to maintain a favorable microenvironments for the cells to avoid cell death or loss of cell activity. For example, albumin secretion, a representative innate function of hepatocytes, is well preserved in the hepatocyte spheroids, while the hepatocytes in the conventional monolayer culture rapidly lose their secretory capacity a few days after seeding12. For MSC...

Cell transplantation therapy has attracted widespread attention for treating various intractable diseases. The activity and half-life of bioactive factors that are secreted by the transplanted cells are essential for improved therapeutic effectiveness of a cell transplantation system. Genetic modification of the cells prior to transplantation is a beneficial technique to regulate and manipulate cellular functions, including the secretion of the bioactive factors. It is also important to maintain a favorable microenvironment for the cells for avoiding cell death or loss of cell activity. Three-dimensional (3D) spheroid cell culture, in which cell-to-cell interactions are well preserved, is promising for this purpose, for example, for improving albumin secretion from primary hepatocytes and promoting multi-lineage differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)&#160;1-7.
In this study, a novel combination system of spheroid culture and gene transfection is used to serve as a platform for genetically&#160;modified cell transplantation. For creating spheroid cells, a spheroid culture system on micropatterned culture plates is used. On these plates, cell adhesion areas of 100 &#181;m diameter are regularly arrayed in a two-dimensional manner and are surrounded by non-adhesive areas coated by a PEG matrix3. By seeding an adequate number of cells, arrays of 3D spheroids of 100 &#181;m in diameter are formed corresponding to the micropatterned culture bed.
The spheroids are recovered without disrupting their 3D structure by using thermosensitive cell-culture plates, that were coated with a thermosensitive polymer, poly(iso-propylacrylamide) (PIPAAm)&#160;8-10. The micropatterned architecture is constructed on the thermosensitive plates (custom-built). By simply lowering the temperature of the plates, the spheroids are detached from the culture bed and dispersed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Thus, a large number of spheroids with a uniform size of 100 &#181;m can be obtained in the form of an injectable suspension.
<img alt="Figure 1" p="" src="/files/ftp_upload/52384/52384fig1.jpg" /> Figure 1.&#160;Schematic representation of the spheroid culture system on a micropatterned plate.&#160;Genetic modification is achieved by gene transfection using the original non-viral gene carrier, polyplex nanomicelle. It is composed of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polycation block copolymers11. These have a characteristic core-shell structure consisting of a PEG shell and an inner core of condensed pDNA, allowing safe and effective gene introduction into cells for therapeutic purposes11. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/52384/52384fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/52384/52384fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2.&#160;Structure of the polyplex nanomicelle formed by the complex of nucleic acids and PEG-block-polycation block copolymers.&#160;In this study, the primary advantage of this technique is that the spheroid structure is not disrupted during gene transfection by the nanomicelles. After nanomicelle-mediated transfections of rat primary hepatocyte spheroids, prolonged transgene expression is obtained for more than a month with continuous albumin secretion from the hepatocytes at a level comparable to that of untransfected spheroids12. The transgene expression and albumin secretion from the spheroids are also maintained after recovery from the thermosensitive plates. It is evident that nanomicelles can safely facilitate gene introduction without impairing the innate functions of the hepatocytes. Thus, the combination of spheroid cells cultured on thermosensitive micropatterned plates with gene introduction using nanomicelles is a promising platform for genetically modified cell transplantation. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/52384/52384fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Pen-Strep-Glut</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dexamethasone</td>
			<td>Wako Pure Chemical Industries</td>
			<td>041-18861</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Nicotinamide</td>
			<td>Wako Pure Chemical Industries</td>
			<td>141-01202</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hank&#8217;s buffered salt and L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc-2P)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A8960</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF)</td>
			<td>Toyobo</td>
			<td>PT10015</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell-able multi-well plates</td>
			<td>Toyo Gosei</td>
			<td>PP-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermosensitive cell culture plates (Upcell)</td>
			<td>CellSeed Inc</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>The micropatterned architecture is constructed on the thermosensitive plates (custom-built by Toyo Gosei)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Lipid-based transfection reagent (FuGENE HD)</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>E2311</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Renilla Luciferase Assay System</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>E2810</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pGL4 Luciferase Reporter Vector</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>E6651</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pDNA expressing Gaussia luciferase</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>N8082S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse erhthropoietin-expressing vector</td>
			<td>Origene</td>
			<td>MC208445</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pCAG-GS</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Kindly provided by Laboratory for Pluripotent Cell Studies, Center for Developmental Biology, RIKEN</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Escherichia coli DH5&#945; competent cells</td>
			<td>Takara</td>
			<td>9057</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Endotoxin-free plasmid DNA purification system</td>
			<td>Nippon Genetics</td>
			<td>NucleoBond Xtra EF</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>collagenase</td>
			<td>Wako Pure Chemical Industries</td>
			<td>639-00951</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>trypsin inhibitor</td>
			<td>GIBCO</td>
			<td>R-007-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Luminometer</td>
			<td>Promega</td>
			<td>GloMax&#8482; 96 Microplate Luminometer</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IVIS Imaging System</td>
			<td>Xenogen Corp.</td>
			<td>Xenogen IVIS Spectrum in vivo imaging system</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>blood sample analyzer</td>
			<td>Sysmex</td>
			<td>pocH-100i Automated Hematology Analyzer</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

gene transfection toward spheroid cells on micropatterned culture plates for genetically-modified cell transplantation

To improve the therapeutic effectiveness of cell transplantation, a transplantation system of genetically modified, injectable spheroids was developed. The cell spheroids are prepared in a culture system on micropatterned plates coated with a thermosensitive polymer. A number of spheroids are formed on the plates, corresponding to the cell adhesion areas of 100 &#181;m diameter that are regularly arrayed in a two-dimensional manner, surrounded by non-adhesive areas that are coated by a polyethylene glycol (PEG) matrix. The spheroids can be easily recovered as a liquid suspension by lowering the temperature of the plates, and their structure is well maintained by passing them through injection needles with a sufficiently large caliber (over 27 G). Genetic modification is achieved by gene transfection using the original non-viral gene carrier, polyplex nanomicelle, which is capable of introducing genes into cells without disrupting the spheroid structure. For primary hepatocyte spheroids transfected with a luciferase-expressing gene, the luciferase is sustainably obtained in transplanted animals, along with preserved hepatocyte function, as indicated by albumin expression. This system can be applied to a variety of cell types including mesenchymal stem cells.

Gene transfection of the Gaussia luciferase-expressing pDNA was performed in the spheroids formed by the hepatocytes or MSCs using polyplex nanomicelles or the control lipid-based transfection reagent12. The nanomicelles induced almost no change in the spheroid structure compared with non-transfected spheroids on the micropatterned plates, whereas the control reagent significantly disrupted the structure a day after the transfection (Figure 3). After transfection using the nanomicelles, consis...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Gene Transfection toward Spheroid Cells on Micropatterned Culture Plates for Genetically-modified Cell Transplantation at JoVE.com

Gene Transfection toward Spheroid Cells on Micropatterned Culture Plates for Genetically-modified Cell Transplantation

This protocol describes a cell transplantation system using genetically modified, injectable spheroids. Cell spheroids are cultured on micropatterned culture plates and recovered after gene introduction using polyplex nanomicelles. This system facilitates prolonged transgene expression from the transplanted cells in host animals while maintaining the innate function of the cells.

To improve the therapeutic effectiveness of cell transplantation, a transplantation system of genetically modified, injectable spheroids was developed. ...

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Bioengineering

8.7K Görüntüleme.  The University of Tokyo. This protocol describes a cell transplantation system using genetically modified, injectable spheroids. Cell spheroids are cultured on micropatterned culture plates and recovered after gene introduction using polyplex nanomicelles. This system facilitates prolonged transgene expression from the transplanted cells in host animals while maintaining the innate function of the cells.