Name: isolation and flow cytometric analysis of glioma-infiltrating peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Uploaded: 2015-11-28T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells at JoVE.com

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders &#38; Stroke (NIH/NINDS) grants R01-NS074387, R01-NS057711 and R21-NS091555 to M.G.C.; NIH/NINDS grants R01-NS061107, R01-NS076991, R01-NS082311 and R21-NS084275 to P.R.L.; grants from Leah&#8217;s Happy Hearts, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center awarded to M.G.C. and P.R.L; the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine; the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research, supported by NIH grant 2UL1-TR000433; the University of Michigan Cancer Biology Training Grant supported by NIH/NCI (National Cancer Institute) grant T32-CA009676; the University of Michigan Training in Clinical and Basic Neuroscience supported by NIH/NINDS grant T32-NS007222; and the University of Michigan Medical Scientist Training Program supported by NIH/NIGMS (National Institute of General Medicine Sciences) grant T32-GM007863. The authors are thankful for the academic leadership and support received from Dr. Karin Muraszko and the Department of Neurosurgery; to M. Dahlgren, D. Tomford, and S. Napolitan for superb administrative support; to M. Dzaman for outstanding technical assistance; and to Phil F. Jenkins for generous support toward the purchase of a Zeiss 3D Scanning Electron Microscope. We also acknowledge the Kuchroo laboratory at Harvard Medical School from which a modified version of the density centrifugation media-mediated strategy for isolation of brain mononuclear cells was drawn.

Note: Please review the entire protocol prior to performing experiments. Approval for the use of vertebrate animals from the appropriate institutional committee on the use and welfare of animals must be obtained prior to proceeding.
1. Preparation of Tumor Cells for Intracranial Engraftment
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	<li>Working in a class II biological safety cabinet, start by preparing GL26-Cit-NT/gal1i cell culture media by supplementing a 500 ml&#160;bottle of Dulbecco&#8217;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) wi...

<ol>
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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=Treg+depletion+inhibits+efficacy+of+cancer+immunotherapy:+implications+for+clinical+trials.">Treg depletion inhibits efficacy of cancer immunotherapy: implications for clinical trials.</a> PLoS One. 3, e1983 (2008).</li><li>Ali, 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=Combined+immunostimulation+and+conditional+cytotoxic+gene+therapy+provide+long-term+survival+in+a+large+glioma+model.">Combined immunostimulation and conditional cytotoxic gene therapy provide long-term survival in a large glioma model.</a> Cancer Res. 65, 7194-7204 (2005).</li><li>Dewey, R. 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This protocol describes a robust and reproducible method for the isolation and flow cytometric analysis of PBMCs that have infiltrated the early mouse brain tumor microenvironment. Glioma cell suspensions are generated at a concentration specified by the experimentalist that are stereotactically engrafted into the striatum of the mouse brain. Mice are then euthanized at predetermined time points specified by the experimental design and their brains are harvested and processed to isolate glioma-infiltrating PBMCs which ar...

Gliomas are a class of neuroepithelial brain cancers arising from transformed glia within the central nervous system (CNS). Of all the gliomas, World Health Organization (WHO) grade IV glioma, or glioblastoma (GBM), is the most common and lethal1. GBM is highly refractory to the current standard-of-care which consists of tumor resection to the extent possible followed by radiation plus concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide2. These deadly cancers carry a dismal prognosis of only 15-18 months of survival from the time of initial diagnosis with only 5% of patients surviving the disease after 5 years3.
The presence of the blood brain barrier (BBB), lack of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs), and the previously unidentified existence of bona fide lymphatic structures within the brain4 have led to the notion of GBM as immune privileged. However, numerous studies now show that these brain cancers indeed engender the recruitment of peripheral immune cells that are predominantly myeloid in origin which include monocytes, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)5. GBM also influences the activity of brain-resident microglia to become pro-tumorigenic6,7. Lymphoid cells such as CD8+ T cells8 and CD56+&#160;natural killer&#160;cells9 are also present within the tumor microenvironment, but in much fewer numbers, a fact thought to be due to immunosuppressive function instigated by glioma-derived factors on tumor associated macrophages (TAMs)10. CD4+ T cells are also present in GBM, but much of this population also expresses CD25 and FoxP3, makers of immunosuppressive T regulatory (Treg) cells11. The overall immunosuppressive state of GBM culminates in the promotion of immunologic escape and tumor progression12.
A better understanding of the mechanisms of GBM immunosuppression is critical to the development of effective immunotherapeutic strategies designed to stimulate the immune system against the tumor. Over the last 15 years our lab has worked to overcome the mechanisms of brain tumor immunosuppresson in order to develop efficacious new anti-GBM immunotherapeutics13-19. The culmination of this work has now led to a clinical trial designed to evaluate a combined cytotoxic and immune-stimulatory therapeutic for patients with newly diagnosed GBM (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01811992).
Our most recent work shows that mouse GL26 and rat CNS-1 GBM cells block anti-tumor NK cell immune surveillance by producing large amounts of the &#946;-galactoside-binding lectin galectin-1 (gal-1)20. This was demonstrated by suppressing the expression of gal-1 in glioma cells using shRNA-mediated gene knockdown. In vitro experiments showed that gal-1-deficient glioma cells proliferated normally in culture, yet underwent rapid rejection soon after intracranial engraftment into syngeneic C57BL/6J or RAG1-/- mice, thus establishing the independence of T- or B- cells on this form of tumor rejection. NK cell immunodepletion with anti-asialo GM1 anti-serum or monoclonal NK1.1 antibodies led to the complete restoration of intracranial gal-1-deficient glioma growth, establishing the role of NK cells in gal-1-deficient glioma rejection. We now show that immunodepletion of Gr-1+/CD11b+ myeloid cells is sufficient to prevent gal-1-deficient glioma rejection despite the presence of NK cells, thus revealing a indispensible auxiliary role for myeloid cells in the aiding of NK-mediated gal-1-deficient tumor lysis (unpublished data). This unexpected result has led us to develop a comprehensive protocol for the isolation and analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that infiltrate the brain tumor microenvironment soon after intracranial engraftment so that we may better characterize the immune infiltration events that predicate gal-1-deficient glioma rejection.
The method is demonstrated here by using mouse GL26 glioma cells that constitutively express mCitrine fluorescent protein, called GL26-Cit, which permit direct tumor cell visualization by fluorescence microscopy21. These cells are stereotactically engrafted into the brain of syngeneic C57BL/6J mice and are allowed to grow for 24, 48, or 72 hr prior to mouse euthanasia. Glioma-infiltrating PBMCs are then isolated and immunolabeled using anti -CD45, -Gr-1, -CD11b and -NK1.1 cell surface antibodies together with intracellular immunolabeling for granzyme B (GzmB). This specific combination of antibodies allows for the identification of tumor-infiltrating Gr-1+/CD11b+ myeloid cells and NK1.1+, NK cells, cell types we&#160;have been implicated in gal-1-deficient tumor rejection. The immune infiltration profile of gal-1-deficient GL26-Cit glioma, referred to here as GL26-Cit-gal1i, is then compared to that of gliomas expressing normal levels of gal-1 called GL26-Cit-NT that contain a non-targeting control shRNA hairpin. The protocol begins with a description on how to culture GL26-Cit glioma cells in vitro, which is followed by an explanation on how to orthotopically engraft these cells into the striatum of syngeneic C57BL/6J mice. It then proceeds to enumerate the steps involved in the isolation and immunolabeling of glioma-infiltrating PBMCs for flow cytometric analysis. The protocol concludes with an explanation of standard data analysis and graphical representation.
The demonstration reveals that both Gr-1+/CD11b+ myeloid cells and NK1.1+ NK cells preferentially accumulate within the gal-1-deficient brain tumor microenvironment within 48 hr of tumor implantation, a result which helps explain why these tumors rapidly undergo complete tumor lysis approximately 1 week post-tumor engraftment20. The method is easily adaptable to a number of different in vivo experimental designs in which temporal data on immune infiltration into the brain is required. A single experimentalist can perform the protocol from brain harvesting to flow cytometric analysis of glioma-infiltrating PBMCs in about 4-6 hr depending on the number of samples to be analyzed. The method may also be combined with experiments aimed to characterize the profile of circulating PBMCs in tumor bearing mice for comparison with those that infiltrate the brain so to identify immunosuppression phenotypes specifically induced by the tumor microenvironment. Application of this and similar methods should facilitate a better understanding of the factors involved in the trafficking of peripheral immune cells into the brain tumor microenvironment.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s Modification of Eagles Medium</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>12430-054</td>
			<td>with 4.5g/L D-glucose, L-glutamine, 25mM HEPES and phenol red&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#8217;s Phosphate-buffered Saline&#160;</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14190-144&#160;</td>
			<td>without calcium chloride or Magnesium chloride</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td>Omega Scientific Inc.</td>
			<td>FB-11</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin Streptomycin&#160;</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15140-122</td>
			<td>10,000U/ml Penicillin; 10,000&#956;g/ml Streptomycin&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-glutamine</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>25030-081</td>
			<td>200mM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>G418 sulfate&#160;</td>
			<td>Omega Scientific Inc.</td>
			<td>GN-04</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Puromycin dihydrochloride&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P8833</td>
			<td>from Streptomyces alboniger</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HyClone HyQTase non-mammalian trypsin alternative&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>SV30030.01</td>
			<td>in DPBS with EDTA&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phase contrast hemocytometer</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>Z359629</td>
			<td>0.1mm deep</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypan blue stain</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15250-061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile 0.9% NaCl injection, USP</td>
			<td>Hospira</td>
			<td>NDC: 0409-4888</td>
			<td>10ml vials</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>0.6ml conical polypropylenemi microtubes</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>22-272</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Atipamezole hydrochloride injection</td>
			<td>Orion Pharma</td>
			<td>NDC: 52483-6298</td>
			<td>5mg/ml solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketamine hydrochloride injection</td>
			<td>Fort Dodge</td>
			<td>NDC: 0409-2051</td>
			<td>100mg/ml solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride injection</td>
			<td>Zoetis</td>
			<td>NDC: 54771-2805</td>
			<td>0.5mg/ml solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xylazine hydrochloride injection</td>
			<td>Lloyd</td>
			<td>NDC: 61311-481</td>
			<td>100mg/ml solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Carprofen injection</td>
			<td>Pfizer</td>
			<td>NDC: 61106-8501</td>
			<td>50mg/ml solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Buprenorphine hydrochloride injection</td>
			<td>Reckitt Benckiser</td>
			<td>NDC: 12496-0757</td>
			<td>0.3mg/ml ampuls</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1ml tuberculin syringes&#160;</td>
			<td>Covidien</td>
			<td>8881501400</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>26G x &#189; (0.45mm x 13mm) syringe needles&#160;</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>305111</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical clippers</td>
			<td>3M</td>
			<td>9661</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Providone-iodine solution</td>
			<td>Aplicare</td>
			<td>82-217</td>
			<td>NDC: 52380-1905</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile petrolatum ophthalmic ointment&#160;</td>
			<td>Dechra</td>
			<td>NDC: 17033-211</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>70% isopropyl alcohol prep pads</td>
			<td>Kendall</td>
			<td>6818</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile gauze</td>
			<td>Covidien</td>
			<td>8044</td>
			<td>non-woven, 4&#34; x 4&#34;, 4-ply&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1.7ml conical polypropylene microtubes</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>22-281</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse stereotactic frame</td>
			<td>Stoelting</td>
			<td>51730</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical lamp</td>
			<td>Philips Burton</td>
			<td>CS316W</td>
			<td>Coolspot II Variable Spotlight</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Curved dissecting forceps</td>
			<td>Ted Pella Inc.</td>
			<td>5431</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Colibri retractors&#160;</td>
			<td>FST</td>
			<td>17000-03</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cordless precision power drill</td>
			<td>Dremel&#160;</td>
			<td>1100-01</td>
			<td>Stylus model; 7.2-Volt Lithium-Ion with Docking Station</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Engraving Cutter</td>
			<td>Dremel</td>
			<td>105</td>
			<td>1/32&#34; or 0.8 mm bit diameter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microliter syringe</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>75</td>
			<td>Hamilton Microliter&#174; Syringes 700 series; 5&#956;l volume</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microliter syringe needles</td>
			<td>Hamilton</td>
			<td>7762-06</td>
			<td>33G, small hub RN NDL, 1.5 in, point style 3, 6/PK</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethilon 3-0 black monofilament nylon sutures&#160;</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>1663</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnetic stir bar</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>74950-296</td>
			<td>7.9mm diameter x 50mm length (5/16&#34; diameter x 2&#34; length)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1L glass screw-cap storage bottle</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>1395</td>
			<td>Type 1, Class A borosilicate glass</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Heparin sodium&#160;</td>
			<td>Sagent</td>
			<td>NDC: 25021-400</td>
			<td>1,000U/ml solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Peristaltic pump</td>
			<td>Cole Parmer Instruments Group</td>
			<td>77200-60</td>
			<td>Master Flex Easy Load II console drive</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>compressed carbogen (95% O2 / 5% CO2)</td>
			<td>available from local vendor</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>A-type, large cylinder&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>20G x 1 &#189;&#34; aluminum hub blunt needles</td>
			<td>Kendall</td>
			<td>8881202363</td>
			<td>0.9mm x 38.1mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polyurethane ice bucket</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td>02-591-45</td>
			<td>Capacity: 0.152 oz. (4.5L)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase (Type I-S)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>C1639</td>
			<td>from Clostridium histolyticum&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Deoxyribonuclease I</td>
			<td>Worthington Biochemical Corp.</td>
			<td>LS002007</td>
			<td>&#62;2,000 Kunitz units per mg dry weight</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antistatic polystyrene hexagonal weighing dishes</td>
			<td>Ted Pella Inc.</td>
			<td>20157-3</td>
			<td>top I.D. 115mm, base I.D. 85mm, 203ml volume&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stainless steel single edged razor blades&#160;</td>
			<td>Garvey</td>
			<td>40475</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bone rongeurs</td>
			<td>FST</td>
			<td>16001-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hemostat</td>
			<td>FST</td>
			<td>13014-14</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Large dissection scissors</td>
			<td>Ted Pella Inc.</td>
			<td>1316</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Small dissection scissors</td>
			<td>FST</td>
			<td>14094-11</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Blunt end forceps</td>
			<td>Ted Pella Inc.</td>
			<td>13250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>7ml glass Dounce tissue grinder</td>
			<td>Kontes</td>
			<td>KT885300-0007</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Percoll Density Centrifugation Media&#160;</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare</td>
			<td>GE17-0891-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10 mL serological pipettes</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>12-104</td>
			<td>single use; sterile</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>70&#956;m sterile nylon mesh cell strainers&#160;</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td>22363548</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 700-conjugated rat anti-mouse CD45 (clone: 30-F11)</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>103128</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>APC-conjugated mouse anti-mouse NK1.1 (clone: PK136)</td>
			<td>eBiosciences&#160;</td>
			<td>17-5941-82</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PE-conjugated rat anti-mouse Gr-1 (clone:RB6-8C5)</td>
			<td>BD Pharmigen</td>
			<td>553128</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PerCP/Cy5.5-conjugated rat anti-mouse CD11b (clone: M1/70)&#160;</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>101228</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 700-conjugated rat IgG2b, &#954; (clone: RTK4530) isotype control&#160;</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>400628</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>APC-conjugated mouse IgG2a, &#954; (clone: eBM2a) isotype control&#160;</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>17-4724</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PE-conjugated rat IgG2b, &#954; (clone: eB149/10H5) isotype control&#160;</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>12-4031-82</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PerCP/Cy5.5-conjugated rat IgG2b, &#954; (clone: RTK4530) isotype control</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>400632</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pacific Blue-conjugated mouse anti-mouse granzyme B (Clone: GB11)&#160;</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>515403</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pacific Blue-conjugated mouse IgG1, &#954; (Clone: MOPC-21) isotype control&#160;</td>
			<td>Biolegend</td>
			<td>400151</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cytofix/Cytoperm</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>554714</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>15ml polypropylene centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>21-103</td>
			<td>conical bottom&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50ml polypropylene centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>21-108</td>
			<td>conical bottom</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>12x75mm round-bottom polypropylene FACS tubes&#160;</td>
			<td>Fisherbrand</td>
			<td>14-956-1B</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>FACSAria Special Order Research Product flow cytometer/cell sorter</td>
			<td>BD&#160;</td>
			<td>650033</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Class II Biological Safety Cabinet</td>
			<td>The Baker Company</td>
			<td>SG603</td>
			<td>model: SterilGARD III Advance</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

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 malignant gliomas soon after intracranial engraftment if the cancer cells are rendered deficient in their expression of the &#946;-galactoside-binding lectin galectin-1 (gal-1). More recent work now shows that a population of Gr-1+/CD11b+ myeloid cells is critical to this effect. To better understand the mechanisms by which NK and myeloid cells cooperate to confer gal-1-deficient tumor rejection we have developed a comprehensive protocol for the isolation and analysis of glioma-infiltrating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The method is demonstrated here by comparing PBMC infiltration into the tumor microenvironment of gal-1-expressing GL26 gliomas with those rendered gal-1-deficient via shRNA knockdown. The protocol begins with a description of&#160;how to culture and prepare GL26 cells for inoculation into the syngeneic C57BL/6J mouse brain. It then explains the steps involved in the isolation and flow cytometric analysis of glioma-infiltrating PBMCs from the early brain tumor microenvironment. The method is adaptable to a number of in vivo experimental designs in which temporal data on immune infiltration into the brain is required. The method is sensitive and highly reproducible, as glioma-infiltrating PBMCs can be isolated from intracranial tumors as soon as 24 hr post-tumor engraftment with similar cell counts observed from time point matched tumors throughout independent experiments. A single experimentalist can perform the method from brain harvesting to flow cytometric analysis of glioma-infiltrating PBMCs in roughly 4-6 hr depending on the number of samples to be analyzed. Alternative glioma models and/or cell-specific detection antibodies may also be used at the experimentalists&#8217; discretion to assess the infiltration of several other immune cell types of interest without the need for alterations to the overall procedure.

The following gating strategy is used for a typical experiment: FSC-A vs. SSC-A &#8594; SSC-H vs. SSC-W &#8594; FSC-H vs. FSC-W &#8594; CD45 vs. count &#8594; Gr-1 vs. CD11b &#8594; NK1.1 vs. count. Gates placed on Gr-1+/CD11b+ myeloid cells and NK1.1+ NK cells are then stratified based on GzmB expression (Figure 5A). Backgating those cells identified as NK1.1+ NK cells and Gr-1+/CD11b+ myeloid cells in our experiments onto FSC-A vs. SSC-A...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells at JoVE.com

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

Presented here is a straightforward method for the isolation and flow cytometric analysis of glioma-infiltrating peripheral blood mononuclear cells that yields time-dependent quantitative data on the number and activation status of immune cells entering the early brain tumor microenvironment.

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

isolation-flow-cytometric-analysis-glioma-infiltrating-peripheral

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Isolation of Mouse Peritoneal Cavity Cells

The peritoneal cavity is a membrane-bound and fluid-filled abdominal cavity of mammals, which contains the liver, spleen, most of the gastro-intestinal tract and other viscera. It harbors a number of immune cells including macrophages, B cells and T cells. The presence of a high number of na&iuml;ve macrophages in the peritoneal cavity makes it a preferred site for the collection of na&iuml;ve tissue resident macrophages (1). The peritoneal cavity is also important to the study of B cells because of the presence of a unique peritoneal cavity-resident B cell subset known as B1 cells in addition to conventional B2 cells. B1 cells are subdivided into B1a and B1b cells, which can be distinguished by the surface expression of CD11b and CD5. B1 cells are an important source of natural IgM providing early protection from a variety of pathogens (2-4). These cells are autoreactive in nature (5), but how they are controlled to prevent autoimmunity is still not understood completely. On the contrary, CD5+ B1a cells possess some regulatory properties by virtue of their IL-10 producing capacity (6). Therefore, peritoneal cavity B1 cells are an interesting cell population to study because of their diverse function and many unaddressed questions associated with their development and regulation. The isolation of peritoneal cavity resident immune cells is tricky because of the lack of a defined structure inside the peritoneal cavity. Our protocol will describe a procedure for obtaining viable immune cells from the peritoneal cavity of mice, which then can be used for phenotypic analysis by flow cytometry and for different biochemical and immunological assays.

The peritoneal cavity in mammals contains different immune cell populations crucial for innate immune responses. An efficient isolation method is required for biochemical and functional analyses of these cells. Here we provide a comprehensive method for the isolation of peritoneal cavity cells in the mouse.

The peritoneal cavity is a membrane-bound and fluid-filled abdominal cavity of mammals, which contains the liver, spleen, most of the gastro-intestinal ...

Detecting Glycogen in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells with Periodic Acid Schiff Staining

Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining is an immunohistochemical technique used on muscle biopsies and as a diagnostic tool for blood samples. Polysaccharides such as glycogen, glycoproteins, and glycolipids stain bright magenta making it easy to enumerate positive and negative cells within the tissue. In muscle cells PAS staining is used to determine the glycogen content in different types of muscle cells, while in blood cell samples PAS staining has been explored as a diagnostic tool for a variety of conditions. Blood contains a proportion of white blood cells that belong to the immune system. The notion that cells of the immune system possess glycogen and use it as an energy source has not been widely explored. Here, we describe an adapted version of the PAS staining protocol that can be applied on peripheral blood mononuclear immune cells from human venous blood. Small cells with PAS-positive granules and larger cells with diffuse PAS staining were observed. Treatment of samples with amylase abrogates these patterns confirming the specificity of the stain. An alternate technique based on enzymatic digestion confirmed the presence and amount of glycogen in the samples. This protocol is useful for hematologists or immunologists studying polysaccharide content in blood-derived lymphocytes.

Periodic acid Schiff staining is a technique that visualizes the polysaccharide content of tissues. This article demonstrates periodic acid Schiff staining protocol adapted for use on peripheral blood mononuclear cells purified from human venous blood. Such samples are enriched for lymphocytes and other white blood cells of the immune system.

Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining is an immunohistochemical technique used on muscle biopsies and as a diagnostic tool for blood samples. ...

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 cells. A key mechanism of this inflammatory response is the migration of circulating immune cells to the ischemic brain facilitated by chemokine release and increased endothelial adhesion molecule expression. Brain-invading leukocytes are well-known contributing to early-stage secondary ischemic injury, but their significance for the termination of inflammation and later brain repair has only recently been noticed.
Here, a simple protocol for the efficient isolation of immune cells from the ischemic mouse brain is provided. After transcardial perfusion, brain hemispheres are dissected and mechanically dissociated. Enzymatic digestion with Liberase&#160;is followed by density gradient (such as Percoll) centrifugation to remove myelin and cell debris. One major advantage of this protocol is the single-layer density gradient procedure which does not require time-consuming preparation of gradients and can be reliably performed. The approach yields highly reproducible cell counts per brain hemisphere and allows for measuring several flow cytometry panels in one biological replicate. Phenotypic characterization and quantification of brain-invading leukocytes after experimental stroke may contribute to a better understanding of their multifaceted roles in ischemic injury and repair.

Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Increasing evidence suggests that it acts as a double-edged sword which exacerbates early brain injury, but also contributes to later repair. This protocol describes the isolation of immune cells from the ischemic brain and their subsequent flow cytometric phenotyping.

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

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Natural Killer Cell Lytic Activity in Human Whole Blood

NK cell cytotoxicity is a widely used measure to determine the effect of outside intervention on NK cell function. However, the accuracy and reproducibility of this assay can be considered unstable, either because of user&#39;s errors or because of the sensitivity of NK cells to experimental manipulation. To eliminate these issues, a workflow that reduces them to a minimum was established and is presented here. To illustrate, we obtained blood samples, at various time points, from runners (n = 4) that were submitted to an intense bout of exercise. First, NK cells are simultaneously identified and isolated through CD56 tagging and magnetic-based sorting, directly from whole blood and from as little as one milliliter. The sorted NK cells are removed of any reagent or capping antibodies. They can be counted in order to establish an accurate NK cell count per milliliter of blood. Secondly, the sorted NK cells (effectors cells or E) can be mixed with 3,3&#39;-Diotadecyloxacarbocyanine Perchlorate (DiO) tagged K562 cells (target cells or T) at an assay-optimal 1:5 T:E ratio, and analyzed using an imaging flow-cytometer that allows for the visualization of each event and the elimination of any false positive or false negatives (such as doublets or effector cells). This workflow can be completed in about 4 h, and allows for very stable results even when working with human samples. When available, research teams can test several experimental interventions in human subjects, and compare measurements across several time points without compromising the data&#39;s integrity.

This work describes an advanced workflow for the accurate and fast determination of NK (Natural Killer) cell count and NK cell cytotoxicity in human blood samples.

NK cell cytotoxicity is a widely used measure to determine the effect of outside intervention on NK cell function. However, the accuracy and ...

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 essential for understanding pathogenicity of different pathogens including HIV. Gamma delta (GD) T cells are the prototype of &#39;unconventional&#39; T cells and represent a relatively small subset of T cells defined by their expression of heterodimeric T-cell receptors (TCRs) composed of gamma and delta chains. This sets them apart from the classical and much better known CD4+ helper T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells that are defined by alpha-beta TCRs. GD T cells often show tissue-specific localization and are enriched in epithelium. GD T cells orchestrate immune responses in inflammation, tumor surveillance, infectious disease, and autoimmunity.
Here, we present a method to reproducibly isolate and analyze human endocervical intraepithelial GD T lymphocytes. We have used endocervical cytobrush samples from women participating in the Women&#39;s Interagency HIV Infection Study (WIHS). Knowledge about GD T cells interactions during conditions in which there is an insult to the vaginal mucosal could be applied to any clinical study in which mucosal vulnerability is addressed, including the development of vaginal microbicides.In addition, knowledge about mucosal GD T cell responses has potential for application of GD T cell-based immune therapy in treating infectious diseases.

We describe here an isolation method to obtain human endocervical intraepithelial lymphocytes for the analysis of intraepithelial gamma delta T cells. This protocol can be extended for the purification of endocervical gamma delta T cells by magnetic beads or by cell sorting.

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

Digestion of the Murine Liver for a Flow Cytometric Analysis of Lymphatic Endothelial Cells

Within the liver, lymphatic vessels are found within the portal triad, and their described function is to remove interstitial fluid from the liver to the lymph nodes where cellular debris and antigens can be surveyed. We are very interested in understanding how the lymphatic vasculature might be involved in inflammation and immune cell function within the liver. However, very little has been published establishing digestion protocols for the isolation of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) from the liver or specific markers that can be used to evaluate liver LECs on a per cell basis. Therefore, we optimized a method for the digestion and staining of the liver in order to evaluate the LEC population in the liver. We are confident that the method outlined here will be useful for the identification and isolation of LECs from the liver and will strengthen our understanding of how LECs respond to the liver microenvironment.

The goal of this protocol is to identify lymphatic endothelial cell populations within the liver using described markers. We utilize collagenase IV and DNase and a gentle mincing of tissue, combined with flow cytometry, to identify a distinct population of lymphatic endothelial cells.

Within the liver, lymphatic vessels are found within the portal triad, and their described function is to remove interstitial fluid from the liver to the ...

Digestion of Whole Mouse Eyes for Multi-Parameter Flow Cytometric Analysis of Mononuclear Phagocytes

The innate immune system plays important roles in ocular pathophysiology including uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. Innate immune cells, specifically mononuclear phagocytes, express overlapping cell surface markers, which makes identifying these populations a challenge. Multi-parameter flow cytometry allows for the simultaneous, quantitative analysis of multiple cell surface markers in order to differentiate monocytes, macrophages, microglia, and dendritic cells in mouse eyes. This protocol describes the enucleation of whole mouse eyes, ocular dissection, digestion into a single cell suspension, and staining of the single cell suspension for myeloid cell markers. Additionally, we explain the proper methods for determining voltages using single color controls and for delineating positive gates using fluorescence minus one controls. The major limitation of multi-parameter flow cytometry is the absence of tissue architecture. This limitation can be overcome by multi-parameter flow cytometry of individual ocular compartments or complimentary immunofluorescence staining. However, immunofluorescence is limited by its lack of quantitative analysis and reduced number of fluorophores on most microscopes. We describe the use of multi-parametric flow cytometry to provide highly quantitative analysis of mononuclear phagocytes in laser-induced choroidal neovascularization. Additionally, multi-parameter flow cytometry can be used for the identification of macrophage subsets, fate mapping, and cell sorting for transcriptomic or proteomic studies.

This protocol provides a method to digest whole eyes into a single cell suspension for the purpose of multi-parameter flow cytometric analysis in order to identify specific ocular mononuclear phagocytic populations, including monocytes, microglia, macrophages, and dendritic cells.

The innate immune system plays important roles in ocular pathophysiology including uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. ...

Flotation-Based T Cell Isolation, Activation, and Expansion from Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Samples Using Microbubbles

The process of isolating T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear&#160;cells (PBMCs) to establish ex vivo cultures is crucial for research, clinical testing, and cell-based therapies. In this study, a simple, novel protocol to isolate, activate, and expand T cells from PBMCs ex vivo is presented. This study utilizes functionalized buoyancy-activated cell sorting (BACS) technology to isolate and activate T cells. Briefly, the protocol involves the positive selection of CD3+ cells from leukopak-derived PBMCs, followed by a 48 h co-stimulation with pre-conjugated anti-CD28-bound streptavidin microbubbles (SAMBs) prior to transduction in 24-well plates. Functionalized microbubbles offer a unique opportunity to buoyantly activate cells, leading to proliferative phenotypes that allow for expansion with minimal exhaustion. This technique offers reduced exhaustion because the co-stimulatory microbubbles remain buoyant and return to the top of the culture medium, thus reducing the amount of time that the expanding cells are in contact with the co-stimulatory factors. The results indicate that the isolated and cultured T cells receive enough stimulation to activate and proliferate but not to an extent that leads to overactivation, which then leads to exhaustion, as demonstrated by the presence of excessive PD-1.

The objective of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of flotation-based separation to isolate, activate, and expand primary human T cells.

The process of isolating T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear&#160;cells (PBMCs) to establish ex vivo cultures is crucial for research, clinical ...

PBMC Collection and Cryostorage for Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Analysis

Cryopreservation and Bioenergetic Evaluation of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

The physiological functions of eukaryotic cells rely on energy mainly provided by mitochondria. Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to metabolic diseases and aging. Oxidative phosphorylation plays a decisive role, as it is crucial for the maintenance of energetic homeostasis. PBMCs have been identified as a minimally invasive sample to measure mitochondrial function and have been shown to reflect disease conditions. However, measurement of mitochondrial bioenergetic function can be limited by several factors in human samples. Limitations are the amount of samples taken, sampling time, which is often spread over several days, and locations. Cryopreservation of the collected samples can ensure consistent collection and measurement of samples. Care should be taken to ensure that the parameters measured are comparable between cryopreserved and freshly prepared cells. Here, we describe methods for isolating and cryopreserving PBMCs from human blood samples to analyze the bioenergetic function of the mitochondria in these cells. PBMC cryopreserved according to the protocol described here show only minor differences in cell number and viability, adenosine triphosphate levels, and measured respiratory chain activity compared with freshly harvested cells. Only 8-24 mL of human blood is needed for the described preparations, making it possible to collect samples during clinical studies multicentrally and determine their bioenergetics on site.

Author Spotlight: Preservation of Bioenergetic Parameters in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells After Cryopreservation 

Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells can be used for the analysis of immune functions and disorders, metabolic diseases, or mitochondrial functions. In this work, we describe a standardized method for the preparation of PBMCs from whole blood and the subsequent cryopreservation. Cryopreservation makes this time and place independent.

The physiological functions of eukaryotic cells rely on energy mainly provided by mitochondria. Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to metabolic diseases ...

Fungal Clearance Efficiency of Macrophages

Viability Assay of Trichoderma stromaticum Conidia Inside Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear-Derived Macrophages

Macrophages represent a crucial line of defense and are responsible for preventing the growth and colonization of pathogens in different tissues. Conidial phagocytosis is a key process that allows for the investigation of the cytoplasmic and molecular events involved in macrophage-pathogen interactions, as well as for the determination of the time of death of internalized conidia. The technique involving the phagocytosis of fungal conidia by macrophages is widely used for studies evaluating the modulation of the immune responses against fungi. The evasion of phagocytosis and escape of phagosomes are mechanisms of fungal virulence. Here, we report the methods that can be used for the analysis of the phagocytosis, clearance, and viability of T. stromaticum conidia, a fungus which is used as a biocontrol and biofertilizer agent and is capable of inducing human infections. The protocol consists of 1) Trichoderma culture, 2) washing to obtain conidia, 3) the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using the polysucrose solution method and the differentiation of the PBMCs into macrophages, 4) an in vitro phagocytosis method using round glass coverslips and coloration, and 5) a clearance assay to assess the conidia viability after conidia phagocytosis. In summary, these techniques can be used to measure the&#160;fungal clearance efficiency of macrophages.

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Interplay Between Trichoderma stromaticum and the Mammalian Immune System

The technique involving the phagocytosis of fungal conidia by macrophages is widely used for studies evaluating the modulation of the immune responses against fungi. The purpose of this manuscript is to present a method for evaluating the phagocytosis and clearance abilities of human peripheral blood mononuclear-derived macrophages stimulated with Trichoderma stromaticum conidia.

Macrophages represent a crucial line of defense and are responsible for preventing the growth and colonization of pathogens in different tissues. Conidial ...