Authors have nothing to disclose.

The protocol to perform animal experiments, the rationale and objectives of the research, were submitted and approved by the University of Southern California Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
The protocol for establishment of primary cultures from de-identified human esophagectomy specimens was approved by the University of Southern California Institutional Review Board.
1. Obtain Mouse or Human Esophagus
<ol>
	<li>Obtain Mouse Esophagus:</stro...

<ol>
	<li>Stappenbeck, T. S., Miyoshi, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+stromal+stem+cells+in+tissue+regeneration+and+wound+repair.">The role of stromal stem cells in tissue regeneration and wound repair.</a> Science. 324 (5935), 1666-1669 (2009).</li><li>Powell, D. W., Pinchuk, I. V., Saada, J. I., Chen, X., Mifflin, R. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mesenchymal+cells+of+the+intestinal+lamina+propria.">Mesenchymal cells of the intestinal lamina propria.</a> Annu Rev Physiol. 73, 213-237 (2011).</li><li>Rieder, F., 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=T-Helper+2+Cytokines,+Transforming+Growth+Factor+beta1,+and+Eosinophil+Products+Induce+Fibrogenesis+and+Alter+Muscle+Motility+in+Patients+With+Eosinophilic+Esophagitis.">T-Helper 2 Cytokines, Transforming Growth Factor beta1, and Eosinophil Products Induce Fibrogenesis and Alter Muscle Motility in Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.</a> Gastroenterology. 146 (5), 1266-1277 (2014).</li><li>Powell, D. 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=Paracrine+cells+important+in+health+and+disease.">Paracrine cells important in health and disease.</a> The American Journal of Physiology. 277 (1 Pt. 1), C1-9 (1999).</li><li>Powell, D. 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=Intestinal+subepithelial+myofibroblasts.">Intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts.</a> The American Journal of Physiology. 277 (2 Pt. 1), C183-201 (1999).</li><li>Shaker, 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+cells+participate+in+the+murine+esophageal+mucosal+injury+response.">Stromal cells participate in the murine esophageal mucosal injury response.</a> American Journal of Physiology Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 304 (7), 662-672 (2013).</li><li>Shaker, 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=Epimorphin+deletion+protects+mice+from+inflammation-induced+colon+carcinogenesis+and+alters+stem+cell+niche+myofibroblast+secretion.">Epimorphin deletion protects mice from inflammation-induced colon carcinogenesis and alters stem cell niche myofibroblast secretion.</a> The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 120 (6), 2081-2093 (2010).</li><li>Kalabis, 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=Isolation+and+characterization+of+mouse+and+human+esophageal+epithelial+cells+in+3D+organotypic+culture.">Isolation and characterization of mouse and human esophageal epithelial cells in 3D organotypic culture.</a> Nature Protocols. 7 (2), 235-246 (2012).</li><li>Khalil, H., Nie, W., Edwards, R. A., Yoo, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Isolation+of+primary+myofibroblasts+from+mouse+and+human+colon+tissue.">Isolation of primary myofibroblasts from mouse and human colon tissue.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (80), (2013).</li><li>Rieder, F., 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=Gastroesophageal+reflux+disease-associated+esophagitis+induces+endogenous+cytokine+production+leading+to+motor+abnormalities.">Gastroesophageal reflux disease-associated esophagitis induces endogenous cytokine production leading to motor abnormalities.</a> Gastroenterology. 132 (1), 154-165 (2007).</li></ol>

The techniques for primary culture generation are generally similar when using murine or human tissue with mincing and digestion times adapted for tissue size. Our experience with murine tissue suggests that using the methods described above consistently result in successful establishment of primary cultures. Critical steps within the protocol include sterilization of surgical equipment and following standard sterile techniques of tissue culture. The age of the mice is also a critical step. 8 - 12 day old neonates consis...

Epithelial-stromal interactions are involved in the regulation of a variety of gastrointestinal tract functions including mucosal regeneration, repair, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis1,2. These interactions have been best studied in the small intestine and colon and may similarly play a role in esophageal mucosal disorders3. A subpopulation of intestinal and colonic stromal cells termed myofibroblasts has been demonstrated to participate in mediating tissue injury, inflammation and repair4,5. In the distal GI tract, these spindle shaped cells are located adjacent to the basement membrane at the interface between the epithelium and lamina propria and are defined as &#945;-SMA and vimentin positive, pan-cytokeratin negative, and weakly positive or desmin negative5.
The esophageal stroma has not been rigorously characterized at a cellular or molecular level. Our work in the murine esophagus has demonstrated &#945;-SMA and vimentin cells in the esophageal stroma, occasionally subjacent to the squamous epithelium6. Epithelial-stromal interactions have been implicated in esophageal mucosal disorders such as gastro-esophageal mediated injury6 and eosinophilic esophagitis3. Fibrotic strictures are also a known complication of esophageal injury and stromal cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal fibrosis. Isolation of these cells will help accomplish the necessary studies to investigate deranged signaling pathways.
This submission provides the techniques necessary to establish primary cultures of &#945;-SMA positive, vimentin positive myofibroblasts such that existing gaps in knowledge regarding signaling pathways mediating these interactions can be addressed. The technique described has been successfully used by the authors to establish primary murine colonic myofibroblasts7 and further adapted for establishment of murine6 and human myofibroblast-like esophageal stromal cells.
Herein we describe conditions needed to establish and characterize these cultures established from mouse or human esophagus prior to use in future functional studies. Cultures can be grown and utilized for up at 15 passages. Isolation and establishment of primary cultures via the methods outlined below generates stromal cells with a myofibroblast phenotype; &#945;-SMA, vimentin positive, and weakly positive or negative for desmin, and cytokeratin negative. This phenotype is distinct from the phenotype of the esophageal fibroblast which is predominantly vimentin positive, &#945;-SMA negative3 or the &#945;-SMA positive, vimentin negative phenotype of the muscularis mucosae6.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1647">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:549px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:549px;"></td>
			<td style="width:549px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tissue culture reagents</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">HBSS&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>H6648</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">dispase&#160;</td>
			<td>GIBCO, Invitrogen</td>
			<td>&#160;17105-041</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">collagenase XI&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich&#160;</td>
			<td>C9407&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">DMEM&#160;</td>
			<td>GIBCO, Invitrogen&#160;</td>
			<td>11965-092</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">sorbitol&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S1876</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">FBS</td>
			<td>Sigma)</td>
			<td>F42442</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">transferrin&#160;</td>
			<td>Roche</td>
			<td>10-652-202-001</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">trypsin/EDTA&#160;</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>25-052-Cl</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">epidermal growth factor&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>E9644</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">trypsin/EDTA&#160;</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>&#160;25-052-Cl</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;"></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Reagents for immunostaining</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">goat serum</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>G9023</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Mouse mAB to &#945;-SMA&#160;</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab7817</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Rabbit pAB to vimentin&#160;</td>
			<td>abcam</td>
			<td>ab45939</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Cy2 conjugated Goat anti Rabbit&#160;</td>
			<td>Jackson ImmunoResearch</td>
			<td>111-225-144</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">DAPI&#160;</td>
			<td>sigma-aldrich</td>
			<td>D8417</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">CD31 conjugated to eFluor 450&#160;</td>
			<td>ebiosciences</td>
			<td>48-0319-410</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">CD90 conjugated to APC&#160;</td>
			<td>ebiosciences&#160;</td>
			<td>17-0909-41&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Annexin V and 7AAD&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Pharmigen</td>
			<td>559763</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">mouse Fc block for CD16/CD32&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Pharmigen</td>
			<td>2136662</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;"></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Equipment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">5 ml tube&#160;</td>
			<td>eppendorf</td>
			<td>30108310</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Motic AE31 inverted microscope</td>
			<td>Motic AE31 inverted microscope</td>
			<td>Motic AE31 inverted microscope</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Nuaire Biosafety Cabinet and Incubators</td>
			<td>Nuaire Biosafety Cabinet and Incubators</td>
			<td>Nuaire Biosafety Cabinet and Incubators</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">4-well chamber slides&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>177437</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Eppendorf Centrifuge 5810R</td>
			<td>Eppendorf Centrifuge 5810R</td>
			<td>Eppendorf Centrifuge 5810R</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Olympus Vacuum-Driven Filter System&#160;</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>25-227</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Nikon Eclipse TE300 Fluorescent Microscope&#160;</td>
			<td>Nikon Eclipse TE300 Fluorescent Microscope (Tokyo, Japan)&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">6 well plates&#160;</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>3516</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">T25 Flasks&#160;</td>
			<td>TRP&#160;</td>
			<td>90026</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">T75 Flasks&#160;</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>43064</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Dissection Scissors</td>
			<td>Dissection Scissors</td>
			<td>Dissection Scissors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Dissection Forceps</td>
			<td>Dissection Forceps</td>
			<td>Dissection Forceps</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Single Tipped Q-Tips&#160;</td>
			<td>Kendall</td>
			<td>540500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">T75 Flasks</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>43064</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;"></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Software</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Metamorph software (Molecular Devices)</td>
			<td>Molecular Devices</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">FACSCAlibur&#160;</td>
			<td>BD Bioscience&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">FACSVerse</td>
			<td>BD Bioscience</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation of myofibroblasts from mouse and human esophagus

Murine and human esophageal myofibroblasts are generated via enzymatic digestion. Neonate (8-12 day old) murine esophagus is harvested, minced, washed, and subjected to enzymatic digestion with collagenase and dispase for 25 min. Human esophageal resection specimens are stripped of muscularis propria and adventitia and the remaining mucosa is minced, and subjected to enzymatic digestion with collagenase and dispase for up to 6 hr. Cultured cells express &#945;-SMA and vimentin and express desmin weakly or not at all. Culture conditions are not conducive to growth of epithelial, hematopoietic, or endothelial cells. Culture purity is further confirmed by flow cytometric evaluation of cell surface marker expression of potential contaminating hematopoietic and endothelial cells. The described technique is straightforward and results in consistent generation of non-hematopoieitc, non-endothelial stromal cells. Limitations of this technique are inherent to the use of primary cultures in molecular biology studies, i.e., the unavoidable variability encountered among cultures established across different mice or humans. Primary cultures however are a more representative reflection of the in vivo state compared to cell lines. These methods also provide investigators the ability to isolate and culture stromal cells from different clinical and experimental conditions, allowing comparisons between groups. Characterized esophageal stromal cells can also be used in functional studies investigating epithelial-stromal interactions in esophageal disorders.

Esophageal stromal cells isolated using mechanical and enzymatic digestion are initially plated and cultured in 6 well plates. Examination of cells with an inverted microscope within hours of plating demonstrates a mixed cell suspension loosely adherent to the plate bottom (Figure 1A). Over the next 24 hr, spindle-shaped cells firmly adherent to the plate bottom are observed shooting from the mixed cell suspension (Figure 1B).These sprouting cells cover the entire area of a well within 5...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Myofibroblasts from Mouse and Human Esophagus at JoVE.com

Isolation of Myofibroblasts from Mouse and Human Esophagus

We present a protocol to generate primary cultures of murine and human esophageal stromal cells with a myofibroblast phenotype. Cultured cells have spindle shaped morphology, express &#945;-SMA and vimentin, and lack epithelial, hematopoietic and endothelial cell surface markers. Characterized stromal cells can be used in functional studies of epithelial-stromal interactions.

Murine and human esophageal myofibroblasts are generated via enzymatic digestion. Neonate (8-12 day old) murine esophagus is harvested, minced, washed, ...

isolation-of-myofibroblasts-from-mouse-and-human-esophagus

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

10.9K Views.  Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. We present a protocol to generate primary cultures of murine and human esophageal stromal cells with a myofibroblast phenotype. Cultured cells have spindle shaped morphology, express α-SMA and vimentin, and lack epithelial, hematopoietic and endothelial cell surface markers. Characterized stromal cells can be used in functional studies of epithelial-stromal interactions. 