This work was supported by National Institutes of Health award R01 HL105734 to V.V.P. M.D.L. is supported, in part, by National Institutes of Health Research Career Award K08 HL094748. V.V.P. is an Innovative Researcher of the American Heart Association supported by grant 11IRG900384.

1. Preparing the Necessary Solutions and Equipment
<ol>
	<li>First, sterilize the surgical instruments (straight shape forceps, curved shape forceps, straight shape scissors, and curved shape scissors) by autoclaving them for 15 min. at 121 &#176;C. Prepare 2 sets of instruments, where one set is used for dissecting out the hearts and the other set will be used for mincing up the tissue.</li>
	<li>Dissolve 1 packet of MCDB153 culture media in 900 ml of sterilized, filtered water and stir slowly until the powder has dissolved. Add 1.2 g sodium bicarbonate, or 15.7 ml of sodium bicarbonate solution [7.5% w/v], for each liter of final volume of medium being prepared and stir until dissolved. Adjust the pH to 7.2 by adding either 1 N HCl or 1 N NaOH, then pour the media through a 0.2 &#956;m bottle top filter under sterile conditions in a tissue culture hood (biosafety cabinet). Then collect the media and store it at 4 &#176;C.</li>
	<li>Prepare the supplements to add to the culture media (Materials List). The supplements should be added to the media just before the media is needed for plating the cells.</li>
	<li>Prepare DPBS with 10% FBS plus antibiotics (penicillin and streptomycin).</li>
	<li>Next, prepare a 0.25% trypsin solution by adding 0.25 g of trypsin (Bovine pancreas, activity &#62; 2,500 USP units/mg, ultrapure; USB) to 100 ml of DPBS plus antibiotics (penicillin and streptomycin).</li>
	<li>Other required equipment needed to complete this procedure include a stereomicroscope, Petri-dishes (10-cm), 50-ml conical tubes, 40-&#956;m cell strainers, DPBS plus antibiotics, 60-mm culture dishes and 35-mm culture dishes.</li>
</ol>
2. Isolating Hearts from Neonatal Mouse Pups
<ol>
	<li>First, obtain P0 to P2 neonatal mouse pups (n=6 to 8). It is recommended to use pups generated by breeding Dct-Cre homozygous females with males that are heterozygous for either the R26R:EYFP allele or the Z/EG allele to label the melanocyte-like cells. Both R26R:EYFP and Z/EG mice are available from Jackson Laboratories (stock numbers 006148 and 003920, respectively).</li>
	<li>Next, euthanize the neonatal mouse pups, wipe their chests with an alcohol swab and then place the pups in a 10-cm Petri&#160;dish with DPBS.</li>
	<li>Cut the skin over the chest and sternum with sterilized forceps and scissors and then open the chest carefully under a stereomicroscope. The hearts of neonatal mouse pups are very small so be careful to make sure to remove the entire heart with the atria attached.</li>
	<li>Wash the hearts in DPBS and transfer them to a new 10-cm Petri&#160;dish.</li>
</ol>
3. Enzymatic Digestion
<ol>
	<li>Bring the Petri-dish with the excised hearts to a tissue culture hood (biosafety cabinet) and then follow the steps below using sterile techniques in the hood.</li>
	<li>First, wash the hearts three times in sterile DPBS plus antibiotics.</li>
	<li>Place the hearts (n=6-8) in a 60-mm culture dish and add 6-8 ml of 0.5% trypsin solution to the dish.</li>
	<li>Next, cut the hearts into small pieces (less than 1-mm in size) and incubate them at 37 &#176;C for 30 min in a 5% CO2 atmosphere.</li>
	<li>After the incubation period is complete, pour the resulting solution of cardiac tissue and trypsin from the dish into a sterile 50-ml conical tube.</li>
	<li>Then, using a 10-ml sterile pipette, quickly but gently, triturate the solution in the 50-ml conical tube 30-50 times.</li>
	<li>Filter the resulting solution through a 40-&#956;m cell strainer on top of a new, clean 50-ml conical tube to collect the filtrate.</li>
	<li>Next, centrifuge the 50-ml tube at 240 x g in a table-top centrifuge for 5 min at room temperature. Then, gently aspirate off the supernatant and resuspend the remaining pellet in 6-8 ml of sterile DPBS. Repeat this step 2 more times. This step pellets the atrial myocytes and cardiac melanocytes but does not bring down the fibroblasts since the fibroblasts are smaller and will remain in the supernatant.</li>
</ol>
4. Plating Cardiac Melanocyte-like Cells
<ol>
	<li>Following the third rinse after centrifugation, carefully drain or aspirate off the wash solution (DPBS) and resuspend the pellet in 6 ml of MCDB culture media to which the supplements have been added.</li>
	<li>Now, draw the resuspended solution into a sterile transfer pipette and place the cells in a 35-mm dish, or in a well of a 6-well plate, and pool the isolated cardiac cells from 3 neonatal mice in one 35-mm dish or well.</li>
	<li>Incubate the dishes overnight at 37 &#176;C in a 5% CO2 atmosphere, aspirate off the culture media along with any unattached cells and then rinse the plates once with DPBS. Then add fresh media to the plates and replace the media every 2 days. Cells isolated from neonatal or embryonic hearts can be maintained in culture for up to 3 weeks, whereas cells isolated from adult hearts can be maintained in culture for up to 10 days.</li>
</ol>
5. Isolating Cardiac Melanocyte-like Cells from Adult Mouse Heart
<ol>
	<li>First, remove the hearts from mature mice (3-4 weeks-old, n=3) through a mid-line sternotomy after administering heparin 100 U intraperitoneal to the mice and then euthanizing them. It is recommended to use pentobarbital to euthanize mice for this procedure, but this drug is not available in all locations.</li>
	<li>Next, wash the excised hearts in sterile DPBS containing antibiotics in a tissue culture hood (biosafety cabinet). Squeeze the hearts slightly with curved dissecting forceps to remove any remaining blood from them and then rinse the hearts in DPBS one more time.</li>
	<li>Remove the atria and atrioventricular annulus from the hearts (these structures contain the melanocyte-like cells) and place the excised tissue specimens in a 35-mm dish.</li>
	<li>Cut the hearts into small pieces using curved scissors and forceps and then add 6-8 ml of 0.5% trypsin solution to the dish. Then incubate the dishes at 37 &#176;C for 45-60 min.</li>
	<li>Now, follow the steps from the procedure above starting from step 3.6 onwards.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Hornyak, 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=Mitf+dosage+as+a+primary+determinant+of+melanocyte+survival+after+ultraviolet+irradiation.">Mitf dosage as a primary determinant of melanocyte survival after ultraviolet irradiation.</a> Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 22, 307-318 (2009).</li><li>Yonetani, 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=In+vitro+expansion+of+immature+melanoblasts+and+their+ability+to+repopulate+melanocyte+stem+cells+in+the+hair+follicle.">In vitro expansion of immature melanoblasts and their ability to repopulate melanocyte stem cells in the hair follicle.</a> J. Invest. Dermatol. 128, 408-420 (2008).</li><li>Levin, M. D., 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=Melanocyte-like+cells+in+the+heart+and+pulmonary+veins+contribute+to+atrial+arrhythmia+triggers.">Melanocyte-like cells in the heart and pulmonary veins contribute to atrial arrhythmia triggers.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 119, 3420-3436 (2009).</li><li>Patel, V. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Novel+insights+in+the+cellular+basis+of+atrial+fibrillation.">Novel insights in the cellular basis of atrial fibrillation.</a> Expert Rev. Cardiovasc. Ther. 8, 907-915 (2010).</li><li>Sviderskaya, E. V., 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=Functional+neurons+and+melanocytes+induced+from+immortal+lines+of+postnatal+neural+crest-like+stem+cells.">Functional neurons and melanocytes induced from immortal lines of postnatal neural crest-like stem cells.</a> FASEB J. 23, 3179-3192 (2009).</li><li>Sviderskaya, E. V., 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=P16Ink4a+in+melanocyte+senescence+and+differentiation.">P16Ink4a in melanocyte senescence and differentiation.</a> J. Natl. Cancer. Inst. 94, 446-454 (2002).</li><li>Cook, A. L., 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=Human+melanoblasts+in+culture:+Expression+of+BRN2+and+synergistic+regulation+by+fibroblast+growth+factor-2,+stem+cell+factor,+and+endothelin-3.">Human melanoblasts in culture: Expression of BRN2 and synergistic regulation by fibroblast growth factor-2, stem cell factor, and endothelin-3.</a> J. Invest. Dermatol. 121, 1150-1159 (2002).</li><li>Fang, D., 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=Defining+the+conditions+for+the+generation+of+melanocytes+from+human+embryonic+stem+cells.">Defining the conditions for the generation of melanocytes from human embryonic stem cells.</a> Stem Cells. 24, 1668-1677 (2006).</li><li>Brito, F. C., 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=Timeline+and+distribution+of+melanocyte+precursors+in+the+mouse+heart.">Timeline and distribution of melanocyte precursors in the mouse heart.</a> Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 21, 464-470 (2008).</li><li>Yajima, I., 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+isolation+of+heart+melanocytes+is+specified+and+the+level+of+pigmentation+in+the+heart+may+correlate+with+coat+color.">The isolation of heart melanocytes is specified and the level of pigmentation in the heart may correlate with coat color.</a> Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 21, 471-476 (2008).</li></ol>

We have nothing to disclose.

Cardiac melanocytes are present in anatomic locations within the heart that commonly give rise to atrial arrhythmia triggers. These regions include the pulmonary veins, the atrioventricular annulus, the posterior left atrium and the foramen ovale (Figure 4). To understand the role these cells play in arrhythmogenesis, we develop techniques to isolate them and study their physiology. However, we recognized that improving this technique to yield healthier and larger quantities of cardiac melanocytes would ...

We recently identified a novel cell population in the heart of mice and humans that express melanin-synthesis enzymes and morphologically resemble cutaneous melanocytes. We called these cells &#39;cardiac melanocytes&#39; and found they are present in anatomic locations from which atrial arrhythmia triggers often originate in humans. We also found cardiac melanocytes contribute to atrial arrhythmias in mice with germline deletion of Dct. Cardiac melanocytes are sparsely distributed throughout the mouse atrium where they comprise less than 0.1% of all atrial cells. To investigate the electrical and biological properties of cardiac melanocytes we developed a procedure to isolate them from the mouse heart using Cre-inducible melanocyte specific markers. Our initial procedure was developed from those used to isolate neonatal murine cardiomyocytes and yielded very small numbers of cells suitable for patch clamp recordings or PCR analysis. However, to improve the health and viability of cardiac melanocytes, for more in-depth electrophysiological analysis or biochemical studies, we developed a refined procedure from those designed to isolate cutaneous melanocytes. The procedure described and demonstrated in this review has the advantage of producing healthier cardiac melanocytes that can be plated as a pure population or with cardiomyocytes.

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of the reagent</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalogue number</td>
 <td>Comment</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>MCDB 153</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>M7403</td>
 <td>Dissolve in: Water</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DPBS, no calcium no magnesium</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>14190136 </td>
 <td>Stock Conc.: 1X 
 Working Conc.: 1X</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Sodium Bicarbonate, or Sodium Bicarbonate Solution, 7.5% </td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich </td>
 <td>S5761 or S8761 </td>
 <td>Water 
 Stock Conc.: 1X 
 Working Conc.: 1X</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Penicillin-streptomycin </td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>15140163 </td>
 <td>Stock Conc.: 100X 
 Working Conc.: 1X</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Fetal Bovine Serum</td>
 <td>Life Technology</td>
 <td>Certified</td>
 <td>Working Conc.: 4%</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>TPA</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>P1585</td>
 <td>DMSO 
 Stock Conc.: 3.2 &mu;M 
 Working Conc.: 32 nM</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Transferrin</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>T8158</td>
 <td>DPBS 
 Stock Conc.: 0.1 mg/ml 
 Working Conc.: 1 &mu;g/ml </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dibutyryl cyclic AMP</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>D0627</td>
 <td>DPBS 
 Stock Conc.: 0.5 mM 
 Working Conc.: 5 &mu;M</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Insulin</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>I6634</td>
 <td>10 mM 
 acetic acid 
 Stock Conc.: 1 mg/ml 
 Working Conc.: 5 &mu;g/ml</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Basic FGF</td>
 <td>BD Biosciences</td>
 <td>354060</td>
 <td>Water 
 Stock Conc.: 4 ng/&mu;l 
 Working Conc.: 4 ng/ml</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

isolating primary melanocyte-like cells from the mouse heart

We identified a novel population of melanocyte-like cells (also known as cardiac melanocytes) in the hearts of mice and humans that contribute to atrial arrhythmia triggers in mice. To investigate the electrical and biological properties of cardiac melanocytes we developed a procedure to isolate them from mouse hearts that we derived from those designed to isolate neonatal murine cardiomyocytes. In order to obtain healthier cardiac melanocytes suitable for more extensive patch clamp or biochemical studies, we developed a refined procedure for isolating and plating cardiac melanocytes based on those originally designed to isolate cutaneous melanocytes. The refined procedure is demonstrated in this review and produces larger numbers of healthy melanocyte-like cells that can be plated as a pure population or with cardiomyocytes.

The protocol described in this article is an improved technique compared to the one we previously published for isolating cardiac melanocytes from the murine heart. This procedure employs the use of fluorescent markers driven by melanin synthesis enzyme-specific Cre-recombinase to label cardiac melanocyte-like cells. It is important to use a marker to label cardiac melanocytes when working with freshly isolated embryonic or neonatal cells, since the morphological differences that distinguish cardiac melanocytes from atri...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolating Primary Melanocyte-like Cells from the Mouse Heart at JoVE.com

Isolating Primary Melanocyte-like Cells from the Mouse Heart

In this protocol, we identified a novel population of melanocyte-like cells (also known as cardiac melanocytes) in the hearts of mice and humans that contribute to atrial arrhythmia triggers in mice.&#160;

We identified a novel population of melanocyte-like cells (also known as cardiac melanocytes) in the hearts of mice and humans that contribute to atrial ...

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10.4K Views.  University of Pennsylvania. In this protocol, we identified a novel population of melanocyte-like cells (also known as cardiac melanocytes) in the hearts of mice and humans that contribute to atrial arrhythmia triggers in mice. 

Video: Isolating Primary Melanocyte-like Cells from the Mouse Heart

Isolating Stem Cells from Soft Musculoskeletal Tissues

Adult stem cells have long been discussed in regards to their application in regenerative medicine. Adult stem cells have generated a great deal of excitement for treating injured and diseased tissues due to their impressive capabilities to undergo multi-lineage cell differentiation and their self-renewal ability. Most importantly, these qualities have made them advantageous for use in autologous cell transplantation therapies. The current protocol will introduce the readers to the modified preplate technique where soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system, e.g. tendon and muscle, are 1st enzymatically dissociated and then placed in collagen coated flasks with medium. The supernatant, which is composed of medium and the remaining floating cells, is serially transferred daily to new flasks. The stem cells are the slowest to adhere to the flasks which is usually takes 5-7 days (serial transfers or preplates) . By using this technique, adult stem cells present in these tissues can be easily harvested through fairly non-invasive procedures.

Isolating adult stem cells from musculoskeletal soft tissues based on the cell's adherence speed to flask.

Adult stem cells have long been discussed in regards to their application in regenerative medicine. Adult stem cells have generated a great deal of ...

Clonogenic Assay: Adherent Cells

The clonogenic (or colony forming) assay has been established for more than 50 years; the original paper describing the technique was published in 19561. Apart from documenting the method, the initial landmark study generated the first radiation-dose response curve for X-ray irradiated mammalian (HeLa) cells in culture1. Basically, the clonogenic assay enables an assessment of the differences in reproductive viability (capacity of cells to produce progeny; i.e. a single cell to form a colony of 50 or more cells) between control untreated cells and cells that have undergone various treatments such as exposure to ionising radiation, various chemical compounds (e.g. cytotoxic agents) or in other cases genetic manipulation. The assay has become the most widely accepted technique in radiation biology and has been widely used for evaluating the radiation sensitivity of different cell lines. Further, the clonogenic assay is commonly used for monitoring the efficacy of radiation modifying compounds and for determining the effects of cytotoxic agents and other anti-cancer therapeutics on colony forming ability, in different cell lines. A typical clonogenic survival experiment using adherent cells lines involves three distinct components, 1) treatment of the cell monolayer in tissue culture flasks, 2) preparation of single cell suspensions and plating an appropriate number of cells in petri dishes and 3) fixing and staining colonies following a relevant incubation period, which could range from 1-3 weeks, depending on the cell line. Here we demonstrate the general procedure for performing the clonogenic assay with adherent cell lines with the use of an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (FEP-1811)2. Also, our aims are to describe common features of clonogenic assays including calculation of the plating efficiency and survival fractions after exposure of cells to radiation, and to exemplify modification of radiation-response with the use of a natural antioxidant formulation.

The applicability of the clonogenic assay for evaluating reproductive viability has been established for more than 50 years. Here we demonstrate the general procedure for performing the clonogenic assay with adherent cells.

The clonogenic (or colony forming) assay has been established for more than 50 years; the original paper describing the technique was published in 19561. ...

Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Radical Anion by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy from Cells using Spin Traps

Reactive nitrogen/oxygen species (ROS/RNS) at low concentrations play an important role in regulating cell function, signaling, and immune response but in unregulated concentrations are detrimental to cell viability1, 2. While living systems have evolved with endogenous and dietary antioxidant defense mechanisms to regulate ROS generation, ROS are produced continuously as natural by-products of normal metabolism of oxygen and can cause oxidative damage to biomolecules resulting in loss of protein function, DNA cleavage, or lipid peroxidation3, and ultimately to oxidative stress leading to cell injury or death4. 
Superoxide radical anion (O2&bull;-) is the major precursor of some of the most highly oxidizing species known to exist in biological systems such as peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radical. The generation of O2&bull;- signals the first sign of oxidative burst, and therefore, its detection and/or sequestration in biological systems is important. In this demonstration, O2&bull;- was generated from polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Through chemotactic stimulation with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), PMN generates O2&bull;- via activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase5. 
Nitric oxide (NO) synthase which comes in three isoforms, as inducible-, neuronal- and endothelial-NOS, or iNOS, nNOS or eNOS, respectively, catalyzes the conversion of L- arginine to L-citrulline, using NADPH to produce NO6. Here, we generated NO from endothelial cells. Under oxidative stress conditions, eNOS for example can switch from producing NO to O2&bull;- in a process called uncoupling, which is believed to be caused by oxidation of heme7 or the co-factor, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)8.
There are only few reliable methods for the detection of free radicals in biological systems but are limited by specificity and sensitivity. Spin trapping is commonly used for the identification of free radicals and involves the addition reaction of a radical to a spin trap forming a persistent spin adduct which can be detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The various radical adducts exhibit distinctive spectrum which can be used to identify the radicals being generated and can provide a wealth of information about the nature and kinetics of radical production9.
The cyclic nitrones, 5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline-N-oxide, DMPO10, the phosphoryl-substituted DEPMPO11, and the ester-substituted, EMPO12 and BMPO13, have been widely employed as spin traps--the latter spin traps exhibiting longer half-lives for O2&bull;- adduct. Iron (II)-N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate, Fe(MGD)2 is commonly used to trap NO due to high rate of adduct formation and the high stability of the spin adduct14.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was employed to detect nitric oxide from bovine aortic endothelial cells and superoxide radical anion from human neutrophils using iron (II)-N-methyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate, Fe(MGD)2 and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyroroline-N-oxide, DMPO, respectively.

Reactive nitrogen/oxygen species (ROS/RNS) at low concentrations play an important role in regulating cell function, signaling, and immune response but in ...

Selecting and Isolating Colonies of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reprogrammed from Adult Fibroblasts

Herein we present a protocol of reprogramming human adult fibroblasts into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) using retroviral vectors encoding Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-myc (OSKM) in the presence of sodium butyrate 1-3. We used this method to reprogram late passage (&gt;p10) human adult fibroblasts derived from Friedreich's ataxia patient (GM03665, Coriell Repository). The reprogramming approach includes highly efficient transduction protocol using repetitive centrifugation of fibroblasts in the presence of virus-containing media. The reprogrammed hiPSC colonies were identified using live immunostaining for Tra-1-81, a surface marker of pluripotent cells, separated from non-reprogrammed fibroblasts and manually passaged 4,5. These hiPSC were then transferred to Matrigel plates and grown in feeder-free conditions, directly from the reprogramming plate. Starting from the first passage, hiPSC colonies demonstrate characteristic hES-like morphology. Using this protocol more than 70% of selected colonies can be successfully expanded and established into cell lines. The established hiPSC lines displayed characteristic pluripotency markers including surface markers TRA-1-60 and SSEA-4, as well as nuclear markers Oct3/4, Sox2 and Nanog. 
The protocol presented here has been established and tested using adult fibroblasts obtained from Friedreich's ataxia patients and control individuals 6, human newborn fibroblasts, as well as human keratinocytes.

We present a protocol for efficient reprogramming of human somatic cells into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) using retroviral vectors encoding Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-myc (OSKM) and identification of correctly reprogrammed hiPSC by live staining with Tra-1-81 antibody.

Herein we present a protocol of reprogramming human adult fibroblasts into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) using retroviral vectors encoding ...

Generation of Mice Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells provides a means to create valuable tools for basic research and may also produce a source of patient-matched cells for regenerative therapies. iPSCs may be generated using multiple protocols and derived from multiple cell sources. Once generated, iPSCs are tested using a variety of assays including immunostaining for pluripotency markers, generation of three germ layers in embryoid bodies and teratomas, comparisons of gene expression with embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and production of chimeric mice with or without germline contribution2. Importantly, iPSC lines that pass these tests still vary in their capacity to produce different differentiated cell types2. This has made it difficult to establish which iPSC derivation protocols, donor cell sources or selection methods are most useful for different applications.
The most stringent test of whether a stem cell line has sufficient developmental potential to generate all tissues required for survival of an organism (termed full pluripotency) is tetraploid embryo complementation (TEC)3-5. Technically, TEC involves electrofusion of two-cell embryos to generate tetraploid (4n) one-cell embryos that can be cultured in vitro to the blastocyst stage6. Diploid (2n) pluripotent stem cells (e.g. ESCs or iPSCs) are then injected into the blastocoel cavity of the tetraploid blastocyst and transferred to a recipient female for gestation (see Figure 1). The tetraploid component of the complemented embryo contributes almost exclusively to the extraembryonic tissues (placenta, yolk sac), whereas the diploid cells constitute the embryo proper, resulting in a fetus derived entirely from the injected stem cell line.
Recently, we reported the derivation of iPSC lines that reproducibly generate adult mice via TEC1. These iPSC lines give rise to viable pups with efficiencies of 5-13%, which is comparable to ESCs3,4,7 and higher than that reported for most other iPSC lines8-12. These reports show that direct reprogramming can produce fully pluripotent iPSCs that match ESCs in their developmental potential and efficiency of generating pups in TEC tests. At present, it is not clear what distinguishes between fully pluripotent iPSCs and less potent lines13-15. Nor is it clear which reprogramming methods will produce these lines with the highest efficiency. Here we describe one method that produces fully pluripotent iPSCs and "all- iPSC" mice, which may be helpful for investigators wishing to compare the pluripotency of iPSC lines or establish the equivalence of different reprogramming methods.

Generating induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines produces lines of differing developmental potential even when they pass standard tests for pluripotency. Here we describe a protocol to produce mice derived entirely from iPSCs, which defines the iPSC lines as possessing full pluripotency1.

The production of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells provides a means to create valuable tools for basic research and may also ...

Protein Isolation from the Developing Embryonic Mouse Heart Valve Region

Western blot analysis is a commonly employed technique for detecting and quantifying protein levels. However, for small tissue samples, this analysis method may not be sufficiently sensitive to detect a protein of interest. To overcome these difficulties, we examined protocols for obtaining protein from adult human cardiac valves and modified these protocols for the developing early embryonic mouse counterparts. In brief, the mouse embryonic aortic valve regions, including the aortic valve and surrounding aortic wall, are collected in the minimal possible volume of a Tris-based lysis buffer with protease inhibitors. If required based on the breeding strategy, embryos are genotyped prior to pooling four embryonic aortic valve regions for homogenization. After homogenization, an SDS-based sample buffer is used to denature the sample for running on an SDS-PAGE gel and subsequent western blot analysis. Although the protein concentration remains too low to quantify using spectrophotometric protein quantification assays and have sample remaining for subsequent analyses, this technique can be used to successfully detect and semi-quantify phosphorylated proteins via western blot from pooled samples of four embryonic day 13.5 mouse aortic valve regions, each of which yields approximately 1 &#956;g of protein. This technique will be of benefit for studying cell signaling pathway activation and protein expression levels during early embryonic mouse valve development.

The analysis of protein expression in young embryonic mouse valves has been hampered by the limited tissue available. This manuscript provides a protocol for preparing protein from developing embryonic mouse valve regions for western blot analysis.

Western blot analysis is a commonly employed technique for detecting and quantifying protein levels. However, for small tissue samples, this analysis ...

Isolation and Primary Culture of Mouse Aortic Endothelial Cells

The vascular endothelium is essential to normal vascular homeostasis. Its dysfunction participates in various cardiovascular disorders. The mouse is an important model for cardiovascular disease research. This study demonstrates a simple method to isolate and culture endothelial cells from the mouse aorta without any special equipment. To isolate endothelial cells, the thoracic aorta is quickly removed from the mouse body, and the attached adipose tissue and connective tissue are removed from the aorta. The aorta is cut into 1 mm rings. Each aortic ring is opened and seeded onto a growth factor reduced matrix with the endothelium facing down. The segments are cultured in endothelial cell growth medium for about 4 days. The endothelial sprouting starts as early as day 2. The segments are then removed and the cells are cultured continually until they reach confluence. The endothelial cells are harvested using neutral proteinase and cultured in endothelial cell growth medium for another two passages before being used for experiments. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that after the second passage the majority of cells were double positive for Dil-ac-LDL uptake, Lectin binding, and CD31 staining, the typical characteristics of endothelial cells. It is suggested that cells at the second to third passages are suitable for in vitro and in vivo experiments to study the endothelial biology. Our protocol provides an effective means of identifying specific cellular and molecular mechanisms in endothelial cell physiopathology.

The vascular endothelial cells play a significant role in many important cardiovascular disorders. This article describes a simple method to isolate and expand endothelial cells from the mouse aorta without using any special equipment. Our protocol provides an effective means of identifying mechanisms in endothelial cell physiopathology.

The vascular endothelium is essential to normal vascular homeostasis. Its dysfunction participates in various cardiovascular disorders. The mouse is an ...

Trans-inner Cell Mass Injection of Embryonic Stem Cells Leads to Higher Chimerism Rates

In an effort to increase efficiency in the creation of genetically modified mice via ES Cell methodologies, we present an adaptation to the current blastocyst injection protocol. Here we report that a simple rotation of the embryo, and injection through Trans-Inner cell mass (TICM) increased the percentage of chimeric mice from 31% to 50%, with no additional equipment or further specialized training. 26 different inbred clones, and 35 total clones were injected over a period of 9 months. There was no significant difference in either pregnancy rate or recovery rate of embryos between traditional injection techniques and TICM. Therefore, without any major alteration in the injection process and a simple positioning of the blastocyst and injecting through the ICM, releasing the ES cells into the blastocoel cavity can potentially improve the quantity of chimeric production and subsequent germline transmission.

Here we present a protocol to increase chimera production without the use of new equipment. A simple orientation change of the embryo for injection can increase the number of embryos produced, and potentially reduce the timeline to germline transmission.

In an effort to increase efficiency in the creation of genetically modified mice via ES Cell methodologies, we present an adaptation to the current ...

Primary Cell Cultures from the Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelium

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a highly polarized multi-functional epithelium that is located between the neural retina and the choroid of the eye. It is a single sheet of pigmented cells that are hexagonally packed and connected by tight junctions. The main functions of the RPE include absorption of light, phagocytosis of the shed photoreceptor outer segments, spatial buffering of ions, transport of nutrients, ions and water as well as active involvement in the visual cycle. With such important and diverse functions, it is critically important to study the biology of RPE cells. A number of RPE cell lines have been established; however, passaged and immortalized cells are known to quickly lose some of the morphological and physiological characteristics of natural RPE cells. Thus, primary cells are more suitable for studying different aspects of RPE cell biology and function. Mouse primary RPE cell culture is very useful to researchers since mouse models are widely used in biological studies, however collecting RPE cells from mouse is also very challenging due to their small size. Here, we present a protocol for establishing primary mouse RPE cell cultures which includes enucleation and dissection of the eyes and isolation of the RPE sheets to yield the cells for culturing. This method enables efficient cell recovery. The RPE cells obtained from two mice&#160;can reach confluency on one 12 mm polyester membrane insert pre-loaded in culture plate after one week of culture and display some of the original properties of bona fide RPE cells such as hexagonal shape and pigmentation after two weeks of culture.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a multi-functional epithelium of the eye. Here we present a protocol to establish primary cell cultures derived from the murine RPE.

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a highly polarized multi-functional epithelium that is located between the neural retina and the choroid of the ...

Isolation, Characterization, and Differentiation of Cardiac Stem Cells from the Adult Mouse Heart

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. A major goal of regenerative medicine is to replenish the dead myocardium after MI. Although several strategies have been used to regenerate myocardium, stem cell therapy remains a major approach to replenish the dead myocardium of an MI heart. Accumulating evidence suggests the presence of resident cardiac stem cells (CSCs) in the adult heart and their endocrine and/or paracrine effects on cardiac regeneration. However, CSC isolation and their characterization and differentiation toward myocardial cells, especially cardiomyocytes, remains a technical challenge. In the present study, we provided a simple method for the isolation, characterization, and differentiation of CSCs from the adult mouse heart. Here, we describe a density gradient method for the isolation of CSCs, where the heart is digested by a 0.2% collagenase II solution. To characterize the isolated CSCs, we evaluated the expression of CSCs/cardiac markers Sca-1, NKX2-5, and GATA4, and pluripotency/stemness markers OCT4, SOX2, and Nanog. We also determined the proliferation potential of isolated CSCs by culturing them in a Petri dish and assessing the expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67. For evaluating the differentiation potential of CSCs, we selected seven- to ten-days cultured CSCs. We transferred them to a new plate with a cardiomyocyte differentiation medium. They are incubated in a cell culture incubator for 12 days, while the differentiation medium is changed every three days. The differentiated CSCs express cardiomyocyte-specific markers: actinin and troponin I. Thus, CSCs isolated with this protocol have stemness and cardiac markers, and they have a potential for proliferation and differentiation toward cardiomyocyte lineage.

The overall goal of this article is to standardize the protocol for the isolation, characterization, and differentiation of cardiac stem cells (CSCs) from the adult mouse heart. Here, we describe a density gradient centrifugation method to isolate murine CSCs and elaborated methods for CSC culture, proliferation, and differentiation into cardiomyocytes.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. A major goal of regenerative medicine is to replenish the dead ...