We thank Dr. Yitzchak Oschry and Dr. Orit Sagi-Asif for their help with FACS sorting. This research was supported by grants to NE from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n &deg; [276890], from the Israel Cancer Association (#20110078), and from the Israel Cancer Research Fund (Research Career Development Award).

1. Dissecting Mammary or Skin Tissue from Mice
<ol>
	<li>Before dissecting the desired tissue from mice, prepare the following supplies and reagents:
	 Supplies: 
	<ul>
		<li>Surgery tools (washed with detergent and then dipped in 70% ethanol).</li>
		<li>Styrofoam surface to rest the mouse on during dissection.</li>
		<li>Pins or needles to hold mice during dissection.</li>
		<li>Glass jar with lid for digestion, containing magnetic stir bar (autoclaved).</li>
		<li>Water bath at 37 &d...

<ol>
	<li>Kalluri, R., Zeisberg, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fibroblasts+in+cancer.">Fibroblasts in cancer.</a> Nat. Rev. Cancer. 6, 392-401 (2006).</li><li>Shimoda, M., Mellody, K. T., Orimo, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Carcinoma-associated+fibroblasts+are+a+rate-limiting+determinant+for+tumour+progression.">Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts are a rate-limiting determinant for tumour progression.</a> Seminars in cell &amp; developmental biology. 21, 19-25 (2010).</li><li>Orimo, A., Weinberg, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Heterogeneity+of+stromal+fibroblasts+in+tumors.">Heterogeneity of stromal fibroblasts in tumors.</a> Cancer Biol. Ther. 6, 618-619 (2007).</li><li>Ostman, A., Augsten, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer-associated+fibroblasts+and+tumor+growth--bystanders+turning+into+key+players.">Cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor growth--bystanders turning into key players.</a> Current opinion in genetics &amp; development. 19, 67-73 (2009).</li><li>Allinen, 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=Molecular+characterization+of+the+tumor+microenvironment+in+breast+cancer.">Molecular characterization of the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer.</a> Cancer Cell. 6, 17-32 (2004).</li><li>Bhowmick, N. A., Neilson, E. G., Moses, H. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stromal+fibroblasts+in+cancer+initiation+and+progression.">Stromal fibroblasts in cancer initiation and progression.</a> Nature. 432, 332-337 (2004).</li><li>Orimo, A., 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=Stromal+fibroblasts+present+in+invasive+human+breast+carcinomas+promote+tumor+growth+and+angiogenesis+through+elevated+SDF-1/CXCL12+secretion.">Stromal fibroblasts present in invasive human breast carcinomas promote tumor growth and angiogenesis through elevated SDF-1/CXCL12 secretion.</a> Cell. 121, 335-348 (2005).</li><li>Pietras, K., Ostman, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hallmarks+of+cancer:+interactions+with+the+tumor+stroma.">Hallmarks of cancer: interactions with the tumor stroma.</a> Experimental cell research. 316, 1324-1331 (2010).</li><li>Erez, N., Truitt, M., Olson, P., Arron, S. T., Hanahan, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer-Associated+Fibroblasts+Are+Activated+in+Incipient+Neoplasia+to+Orchestrate+Tumor-Promoting+Inflammation+in+an+NF-kappaB-Dependent+Manner.">Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Are Activated in Incipient Neoplasia to Orchestrate Tumor-Promoting Inflammation in an NF-kappaB-Dependent Manner.</a> Cancer Cell. 17, 135-147 (2010).</li><li>Sugimoto, H., Mundel, T. M., Kieran, M. W., Kalluri, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+fibroblast+heterogeneity+in+the+tumor+microenvironment.">Identification of fibroblast heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment.</a> Cancer Biol. Ther. 5, 1640-1646 (2006).</li><li>Neumann, E., 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=Cell+culture+and+passaging+alters+gene+expression+pattern+and+proliferation+rate+in+rheumatoid+arthritis+synovial+fibroblasts.">Cell culture and passaging alters gene expression pattern and proliferation rate in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts.</a> Arthritis research &amp; therapy. 12, R83 .</li><li>Sherr, C. J., DePinho, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cellular+senescence:+mitotic+clock+or+culture+shock.">Cellular senescence: mitotic clock or culture shock.</a> Cell. 102, 407-410 (2000).</li><li>DeNardo, D. G., 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=Leukocyte+complexity+in+breast+cancer+predicts+overall+survival+and+functionally+regulates+response+to+chemotherapy.">Leukocyte complexity in breast cancer predicts overall survival and functionally regulates response to chemotherapy.</a> Cancer Discovery. 1, 54-67 (2011).</li><li>Pahler, J. 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=Plasticity+in+tumor-promoting+inflammation:+impairment+of+macrophage+recruitment+evokes+a+compensatory+neutrophil+response.">Plasticity in tumor-promoting inflammation: impairment of macrophage recruitment evokes a compensatory neutrophil response.</a> Neoplasia. 10, 329-340 (2008).</li><li>Pietras, K., Pahler, J., Bergers, G., Hanahan, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Functions+of+paracrine+PDGF+signaling+in+the+proangiogenic+tumor+stroma+revealed+by+pharmacological+targeting.">Functions of paracrine PDGF signaling in the proangiogenic tumor stroma revealed by pharmacological targeting.</a> PLoS Med. 5, e19 (2008).</li><li>Quante, 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=Bone+marrow-derived+myofibroblasts+contribute+to+the+mesenchymal+stem+cell+niche+and+promote+tumor+growth.">Bone marrow-derived myofibroblasts contribute to the mesenchymal stem cell niche and promote tumor growth.</a> Cancer Cell. 19, 257-272 (2011).</li><li>Plante, I., Stewart, M. K., Laird, D. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+Mammary+Gland+Development+and+Function+in+Mouse+Models.">Evaluation of Mammary Gland Development and Function in Mouse Models.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (53), e2828 (2011).</li><li>Xouri, G., Christian, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Origin+and+function+of+tumor+stroma+fibroblasts.">Origin and function of tumor stroma fibroblasts.</a> Seminars in cell &amp; developmental biology. 21, 40-46 (2010).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

While experiments performed in tissue culture can be informative and suggest functional principles that can be verified in vivo, it is known that large changes occur in gene expression of cells in culture11,12 . In order to avoid a tissue culture step when profiling gene expression in fibroblasts, we developed a protocol that allows isolation of normal, as well as cancer-associated fibroblasts from fresh mouse or human tissue. This protocol was successfully applied with skin, pancreas and breast tissu...

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of the reagent</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalogue number</td>
 <td>Comments (optional)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DMEM</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>41965</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>PBS</td>
 <td>Biological Industries</td>
 <td>02-023-1A</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Collagenase II</td>
 <td>Worthington</td>
 <td>LS4176</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Collagenase IV</td>
 <td>Worthington</td>
 <td>LS4188</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Deoxyribonuclease </td>
 <td>Worthington</td>
 <td>LS2007</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>PharmLyse</td>
 <td>BD</td>
 <td>555899</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Cell strainer 70 &mu;m</td>
 <td>SPL</td>
 <td>93070</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Purified anti-mouse CD16/CD32</td>
 <td>BD Pharmingen</td>
 <td>553142</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Via probe (7AAD)</td>
 <td>e-Bioscience</td>
 <td>00-6993-50</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anti-mouse CD140a-PE (PDGFRa)</td>
 <td>e-Bioscience</td>
 <td>12-1401-81</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anti-mouse F4/80- FITC</td>
 <td>Cederlane</td>
 <td>CL8940F</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DMEM w/o Phenol Red</td>
 <td>Gibco</td>
 <td>31053</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Collagen Type I</td>
 <td>BD Biosciences</td>
 <td>354236</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
 </table>

isolation of normal and cancer-associated fibroblasts from fresh tissues by fluorescence activated cell sorting (facs)

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most prominent cell type within the tumor stroma of many cancers, in particular breast carcinoma, and their prominent presence is often associated with poor prognosis1,2. CAFs are an activated subpopulation of stromal fibroblasts, many of which express the myofibroblast marker &alpha;-SMA3. CAFs originate from local tissue fibroblasts as well as from bone marrow-derived cells recruited into the developing tumor and adopt a CAF phenotype under the influence of the tumor microenvironment4. CAFs were shown to facilitate tumor initiation, growth and progression through signaling that promotes tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion5-8. We demonstrated that CAFs enhance tumor growth by mediating tumor-promoting inflammation, starting at the earliest pre-neoplastic stages9. Despite increasing evidence of the key role CAFs play in facilitating tumor growth, studying CAFs has been an on-going challenge due to the lack of CAF-specific markers and the vast heterogeneity of these cells, with many subtypes co-existing in the tumor microenvironment10. Moreover, studying fibroblasts in vitro is hindered by the fact that their gene expression profile is often altered in tissue culture11,12 . To address this problem and to allow unbiased gene expression profiling of fibroblasts from fresh mouse and human tissues, we developed a method based on previous protocols for Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)13,14. Our approach relies on utilizing PDGFR&alpha; as a surface marker to isolate fibroblasts from fresh mouse and human tissue. PDGFR&alpha; is abundantly expressed by both normal fibroblasts and CAFs9,15 . This method allows isolation of pure populations of normal fibroblasts and CAFs, including, but not restricted to &alpha;-SMA+ activated myofibroblasts. Isolated fibroblasts can then be used for characterization and comparison of the evolution of gene expression that occurs in CAFs during tumorigenesis. Indeed, we and others reported expression profiling of fibroblasts isolated by cell sorting16. This protocol was successfully performed to isolate and profile highly enriched populations of fibroblasts from skin, mammary, pancreas and lung tissues. Moreover, our method also allows culturing of sorted cells, in order to perform functional experiments and to avoid contamination by tumor cells, which is often a big obstacle when trying to culture CAFs.

Using PDGFR&alpha; as a marker for fibroblasts results in isolation of highly enriched populations of tissue fibroblasts. The level of purity after sorting was 99%, as quantified by post-sort analysis (Figure 2A). Estimating the percentage of contaminating non-fibroblast cells by the relative expression of cell-specific control genes (Figure 2B) typically shows 0.1-0.6% contamination. This level of purity allows high quality transcriptome profiling of isolated fibroblasts9.</p...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Normal and Cancer-associated Fibroblasts from Fresh Tissues by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting FACS at JoVE.com

Isolation of Normal and Cancer-associated Fibroblasts from Fresh Tissues by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting FACS

Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) facilitate tumor initiation, growth and progression through signaling that promotes proliferation, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Here we describe a method to isolate pure populations of normal fibroblasts and CAFs from fresh mouse and human tissues by cell sorting, using PDGFR&#x03B1; as a surface marker.

Isolation of Normal and Cancer-associated Fibroblasts from Fresh Tissues by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most prominent cell type within the tumor stroma of many cancers, in particular breast carcinoma, and their ...

isolation-normal-cancer-associated-fibroblasts-from-fresh-tissues

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35.4K Views.  Tel Aviv University. Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) facilitate tumor initiation, growth and progression through signaling that promotes proliferation, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Here we describe a method to isolate pure populations of normal fibroblasts and CAFs from fresh mouse and human tissues by cell sorting, using PDGFRα as a surface marker.