Name: flow cytometric isolation of primary murine type ii alveolar epithelial cells for functional and molecular studies
Uploaded: 2012-12-26T12:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Flow Cytometric Isolation of Primary Murine Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cells for Functional and Molecular Studies at JoVE.com

We would like to thank M. H&ouml;xter for technical assistance in sorting primary murine AECII from biosafety level 2 samples.
This work was supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (DFG) to DB (SFB587, TP B12 and BR2221/1-1) and a stipend from the Hannover Biomedical Research School (DFG GSC 108) to AA. DB is supported by the President&acute;s Initiative and Networking Fund of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers (HGF) under contract number W2/W3-029.

Details regarding required reagents and materials are listed in the table at the end of the protocol below. Before starting work, prepare 15 ml tubes (one per mouse) containing 4 ml of dispase and pre-warm them to 37 &deg;C in a water bath. In a heating block, shortly heat small aliquots of 1 % low-melt agarose (in water) to 95 &deg;C until liquefied and subsequently cool to 45 &deg;C until use.
1. Preparation of the Mouse Lung
<ol>
	<li>Sacrifice the mouse by CO2 asphyxiation. <s...

<ol>
	<li>Fehrenbach, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alveolar+epithelial+type+II+cell:+defender+of+the+alveolus+revisited.">Alveolar epithelial type II cell: defender of the alveolus revisited.</a> Respir. Res. 2, 33-46 (2001).</li><li>Folkerts, G., Nijkamp, F. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Airway+epithelium:+more+than+just+a+barrier.">Airway epithelium: more than just a barrier.</a> Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 19, 334-341 (1998).</li><li>Gereke, M., 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=Phenotypic+alterations+in+type+II+alveolar+epithelial+cells+in+CD4++T+cell+mediated+lung+inflammation.">Phenotypic alterations in type II alveolar epithelial cells in CD4+ T cell mediated lung inflammation.</a> Respir. Res. 8, 47 (2007).</li><li>Gereke, M., Jung, S., Buer, J., Bruder, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alveolar+type+II+epithelial+cells+present+antigen+to+CD4(+)+T+cells+and+induce+Foxp3(+)+regulatory+T+cells.">Alveolar type II epithelial cells present antigen to CD4(+) T cells and induce Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells.</a> Am. J. Respir. Crit Care Med. 179, 344-355 (2009).</li><li>Gribar, S. C., Richardson, W. M., Sodhi, C. P., Hackam, D. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=No+longer+an+innocent+bystander:+epithelial+toll-like+receptor+signaling+in+the+development+of+mucosal+inflammation.">No longer an innocent bystander: epithelial toll-like receptor signaling in the development of mucosal inflammation.</a> Mol. Med. 14, 645-659 (2008).</li><li>Herold, 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=Alveolar+epithelial+cells+direct+monocyte+transepithelial+migration+upon+influenza+virus+infection:+impact+of+chemokines+and+adhesion+molecules.">Alveolar epithelial cells direct monocyte transepithelial migration upon influenza virus infection: impact of chemokines and adhesion molecules.</a> J. Immunol. 177, 1817-1824 (2006).</li><li>Knight, D. A., Holgate, S. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+airway+epithelium:+structural+and+functional+properties+in+health+and+disease.">The airway epithelium: structural and functional properties in health and disease.</a> Respirology. 8, 432-446 (2003).</li><li>Schmiedl, A., Kerber-Momot, T., Munder, A., Pabst, R., Tschernig, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bacterial+distribution+in+lung+parenchyma+early+after+pulmonary+infection+with+Pseudomonas+aeruginosa.">Bacterial distribution in lung parenchyma early after pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.</a> Cell Tissue Res. 342, 67-73 (2010).</li><li>Loveday, E. K., Svinti, V., Diederich, S., Pasick, J., Jean, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Temporal-+and+Strain-Specific+Host+MicroRNA+Molecular+Signatures+Associated+with+Swine-Origin+H1N1+and+Avian-Origin+H7N7+Influenza+A+Virus+Infection.">Temporal- and Strain-Specific Host MicroRNA Molecular Signatures Associated with Swine-Origin H1N1 and Avian-Origin H7N7 Influenza A Virus Infection.</a> J. Virol. 86, 6109-6122 (2012).</li><li>Marriott, H. M., 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=Interleukin-1beta+regulates+CXCL8+release+and+influences+disease+outcome+in+response+to+Streptococcus+pneumoniae,+defining+intercellular+cooperation+between+pulmonary+epithelial+cells+and+macrophages.">Interleukin-1beta regulates CXCL8 release and influences disease outcome in response to Streptococcus pneumoniae, defining intercellular cooperation between pulmonary epithelial cells and macrophages.</a> Infect. Immun. 80, 1140-1149 (2012).</li><li>Mata, M., Morcillo, E., Gimeno, C., Cortijo, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=N-acetyl-L-cysteine+(NAC)+inhibit+mucin+synthesis+and+pro-inflammatory+mediators+in+alveolar+type+II+epithelial+cells+infected+with+influenza+virus+A+and+B+and+with+respiratory+syncytial+virus+(RSV).">N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) inhibit mucin synthesis and pro-inflammatory mediators in alveolar type II epithelial cells infected with influenza virus A and B and with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).</a> Biochem. Pharmacol. 82, 548-555 (2011).</li><li>Zarbock, R., 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=The+surfactant+protein+C+mutation+A116D+alters+cellular+processing,+stress+tolerance,+surfactant+lipid+composition,+and+immune+cell+activation.">The surfactant protein C mutation A116D alters cellular processing, stress tolerance, surfactant lipid composition, and immune cell activation.</a> BMC. Pulm. Med. 12, 15 (2012).</li><li>Taubenberger, J. K., Morens, D. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+pathology+of+influenza+virus+infections.">The pathology of influenza virus infections.</a> Annu. Rev. Pathol. 3, 499-522 (2008).</li><li>Dobbs, L. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+culture+of+alveolar+type+II+cells.">Isolation and culture of alveolar type II cells.</a> Am. J. Physiol. 258, L134-L147 (1990).</li><li>Corti, M., Brody, A. R., Harrison, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+and+primary+culture+of+murine+alveolar+type+II+cells.">Isolation and primary culture of murine alveolar type II cells.</a> Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 14, 309-315 (1996).</li><li>Beers, M. F., Kim, C. Y., Dodia, C., Fisher, A. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Localization,+synthesis,+and+processing+of+surfactant+protein+SP-C+in+rat+lung+analyzed+by+epitope-specific+antipeptide+antibodies.">Localization, synthesis, and processing of surfactant protein SP-C in rat lung analyzed by epitope-specific antipeptide antibodies.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 269, 20318-20328 (1994).</li><li>Phelps, D. S., Floros, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Localization+of+pulmonary+surfactant+proteins+using+immunohistochemistry+and+tissue+in+situ+hybridization.">Localization of pulmonary surfactant proteins using immunohistochemistry and tissue in situ hybridization.</a> Exp. Lung Res. 17, 985-995 (1991).</li><li>Wang, 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=Differentiated+human+alveolar+type+II+cells+secrete+antiviral+IL-29+(IFN-lambda+1)+in+response+to+influenza+A+infection.">Differentiated human alveolar type II cells secrete antiviral IL-29 (IFN-lambda 1) in response to influenza A infection.</a> J. Immunol. 182, 1296-1304 (2009).</li><li>Wang, 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=Innate+immune+response+to+influenza+A+virus+in+differentiated+human+alveolar+type+II+cells.">Innate immune response to influenza A virus in differentiated human alveolar type II cells.</a> Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 45, 582-591 (2011).</li></ol>

Our protocol for the isolation of murine AECII by flow cytometry offers a rapid way of accessing primary cells from the mouse lung for a whole range of functional and molecular studies. The described procedure yields highly viable and pure populations of AECII that are sufficient in number for direct subsequent analyses, such as RNA isolation (see Figure 2b) and transcriptome studies. For functional applications, it is also possible to culture the isolated cells, allowing e.g. the generation of ...

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of reagent</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalogue number</td>
 <td>Comments</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>indwelling cannula Introcan 22G</td>
 <td>Braun</td>
 <td>REF 4252098B</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dispase, 100 ml(5000 caseinolytic units)</td>
 <td>BD Biosciences</td>
 <td>354235</td>
 <td>aliquot to 4 ml in 15 ml tubes, store at -20 &deg;C</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Biozym Plaque Agarose</td>
 <td>Biozym</td>
 <td>840101</td>
 <td>1% w/v in H2O</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Deoxyribonuclease I from bovine pancreas, 2000 Kunitz units/vial</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>D4263</td>
 <td>freshly dissolve content of 1 vial in 300 &mu;l DMEM</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DMEM</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>22320-022</td>
 <td>used as provided by manufacturer (Low Glucose, Pyruvate, HEPES)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>cell strainers (100 &mu;m, 75 &mu;m) </td>
 <td>BD Falcon</td>
 <td>352360, 352350</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>nylon mesh(48 &mu;m, 30 &mu;m) </td>
 <td>B&uuml;ckmann GmbH</td>
 <td>03-48/26-1020, 03-30/18-108</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>CellTrics 50 &mu;m filter</td>
 <td>PARTEC</td>
 <td>04-0042-2317</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>anti-mouse CD16/CD32</td>
 <td>BioLegend</td>
 <td>101302</td>
 <td>clone 93; purified</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>anti-mouse F4/80</td>
 <td>BioLegend</td>
 <td>123116</td>
 <td>clone BM8; APC coupled</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>anti-mouse CD11b</td>
 <td>BioLegend</td>
 <td>101208</td>
 <td>clone M1/70; PE coupled</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>anti-mouse CD11c</td>
 <td>BioLegend</td>
 <td>117310</td>
 <td>clone N418; APC coupled</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>anti-mouse CD45</td>
 <td>BioLegend</td>
 <td>103102</td>
 <td>clone 30-F11; purified</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>anti-mouse CD19</td>
 <td>eBioscience</td>
 <td>12-0193-83</td>
 <td>eBio 1D3; PE coupled</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>polyclonal
 goat anti-rat IgG</td>
 <td>BD 
 Pharmingen</td>
 <td>550767</td>
 <td>polyclonal, PE coupled</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 	<td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td></td>
 <td>Antibodies coupled to alternative fluorochromes can be used, depending on the flow cytometer and lasers available.
</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

flow cytometric isolation of primary murine type ii alveolar epithelial cells for functional and molecular studies

Throughout the last years, the contribution of alveolar type II epithelial cells (AECII) to various aspects of immune regulation in the lung has been increasingly recognized. AECII have been shown to participate in cytokine production in inflamed airways and to even act as antigen-presenting cells in both infection and T-cell mediated autoimmunity 1-8. Therefore, they are especially interesting also in clinical contexts such as airway hyper-reactivity to foreign and self-antigens as well as infections that directly or indirectly target AECII. However, our understanding of the detailed immunologic functions served by alveolar type II epithelial cells in the healthy lung as well as in inflammation remains fragmentary. Many studies regarding AECII function are performed using mouse or human alveolar epithelial cell lines 9-12. Working with cell lines certainly offers a range of benefits, such as the availability of large numbers of cells for extensive analyses. However, we believe the use of primary murine AECII allows a better understanding of the role of this cell type in complex processes like infection or autoimmune inflammation. Primary murine AECII can be isolated directly from animals suffering from such respiratory conditions, meaning they have been subject to all additional extrinsic factors playing a role in the analyzed setting. As an example, viable AECII can be isolated from mice intranasally infected with influenza A virus, which primarily targets these cells for replication 13. Importantly, through ex vivo infection of AECII isolated from healthy mice, studies of the cellular responses mounted upon infection can be further extended.
Our protocol for the isolation of primary murine AECII is based on enzymatic digestion of the mouse lung followed by labeling of the resulting cell suspension with antibodies specific for CD11c, CD11b, F4/80, CD19, CD45 and CD16/CD32. Granular AECII are then identified as the unlabeled and sideward scatter high (SSChigh) cell population and are separated by fluorescence activated cell sorting 3.
In comparison to alternative methods of isolating primary epithelial cells from mouse lungs, our protocol for flow cytometric isolation of AECII by negative selection yields untouched, highly viable and pure AECII in relatively short time. Additionally, and in contrast to conventional methods of isolation by panning and depletion of lymphocytes via binding of antibody-coupled magnetic beads 14, 15, flow cytometric cell-sorting allows discrimination by means of cell size and granularity. Given that instrumentation for flow cytometric cell sorting is available, the described procedure can be applied at relatively low costs. Next to standard antibodies and enzymes for lung disintegration, no additional reagents such as magnetic beads are required. The isolated cells are suitable for a wide range of functional and molecular studies, which include in vitro culture and T-cell stimulation assays as well as transcriptome, proteome or secretome analyses 3, 4.

When sorting lung cell suspensions isolated from healthy mice, the AECII gate will typically account for about 42 &plusmn; 10 % of all events. This percentage can be noticeably lower when mice with respiratory conditions such as a viral infection are used, as the initial cell suspension will contain a considerably higher proportion of lymphocytes and other immune cells recruited to the airways. For AECII isolated from IAV infected lungs on day 3 following infection we have observed a reduction of the frequency of cells i...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Flow Cytometric Isolation of Primary Murine Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cells for Functional and Molecular Studies at JoVE.com

Flow Cytometric Isolation of Primary Murine Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cells for Functional and Molecular Studies

We describe the rapid isolation of primary murine type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) by flow cytometric negative selection. These AECII show high viability and purity and are suitable for a wide range of functional and molecular studies regarding their role in respiratory conditions such as autoimmune or infectious diseases.

Throughout  the last years, the contribution of alveolar type II epithelial cells (AECII)  to various aspects of immune regulation in the lung has been ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Flow Cytometry Analysis of Immune Cells Within Murine Aortas

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process of medium and large size vessels that is characterized by the formation of plaques consisting of foam ...

Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection

Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection

Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of human amoebiasis, a major cause of diarrhea and hepatic abscess in tropical countries. Infection is ...

Isolation, Identification, and Purification of Murine Thymic Epithelial Cells

The thymus is a vital organ for T lymphocyte development. Of thymic stromal cells, thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are particularly crucial at multiple ...

Isolation and Intravenous Injection of Murine Bone Marrow Derived Monocytes

As a subtype of leukocytes and progenitors of macrophages, monocytes are involved in many important processes of organisms and are often the subject of ...

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Immune Cells from the Ischemic Mouse Brain

Ischemic stroke initiates a robust inflammatory response that starts in the intravascular compartment and involves rapid activation of brain resident ...

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Our laboratory has recently demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cells are capable of eradicating orthotopically implanted mouse GL26 and rat CNS-1 ...

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes

The intestines &#8212; which contain the largest number of immune cells of any organ in the body &#8212; are constantly exposed to foreign antigens, both ...

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Gamma Delta T Cells

The female reproductive tract (FRT) mucosal immune system serves as the first line of defense. Better knowledge of the genital mucosa is therefore ...

Isolation and Characterization of Neutrophil-derived Microparticles for Functional Studies

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil-derived microparticles (PMN)-MPs) are lipid bilayer, spherical microvesicles with sizes ranging from 50&#8211;1,000 nm in ...

Isolation of Dendritic Cells from the Human Female Reproductive Tract for Phenotypical and Functional Studies

The characterization of the human dendritic cells (DCs) resident in mucosal tissues is challenging due to the difficulty in obtaining samples, and the low ...