Name: isolation of cd 90+ fibroblast/myofibroblasts from human frozen gastrointestinal specimens
Uploaded: 2016-01-31T14:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 6 min 2 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of CD 90+ Fibroblast/Myofibroblasts from Human Frozen Gastrointestinal Specimens at JoVE.com

This work was supported by National Institute of Health (1R01DK103150-01A1, T32 DK007639, R01CA175803, K08CA125209) and the Institute for Translational Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and a Clinical and Translational Science Award (8UL1TR000071).

The protocol for obtaining discarded human tissue from surgical patients and the establishment of primary cultures was approved by the University of Texas Medical Branch and University of New Mexico Institutional Review Boards. The general requirements for the procurement of human tissue specimens is described below. Note that since MFs may be isolated from frozen tissue, biobanks and commercial vendors are also viable options.
1. Obtain Human Tissue
<ol>
	<li>Submit a protocol to obtain human colon tissue to the institutional review board for approval.</li>
	<li>Establish collaborations with general surgeons and/or colorectal surgeons in order to obtain human tissue for research. Collaboration with the pathology department is also mandatory as they will be determining the tissue that is not required for diagnosis and may be designated for research.</li>
	<li>Advise the pathologist to provide tissue from the neoplasm and then grossly normal mucosa at least 5 cm from the tumor. Immediately place the samples in ice-cold wash media and place on ice. The pathologist will determine the amount of tissue that can be safely given for research. The minimal tissue required for MF isolation is 1.5 mm2.</li>
	<li>Use the obtained tissue either immediately to establish the primary cultures or freeze and place at -80 &#176;C for future isolation.
	<ol>
		<li>If freezing for later isolation, cut the tissue into approximately 1 - 2 mm2 pieces, place into a cryogenic tube with 1 ml of freeze media (see below), and store at -80 &#176;C. Note: Utilizing this protocol, successful isolation of MFs from tissue frozen for over 4 years has been observed.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Prepare Reagents
<ol>
	<li>For Collagenase solution: Prepare 100 U/ml collagenase I, II and IV in Hank&#39;s balanced salt solution (HBSS) with Ca2+/Mg2+ (see Materials Table). CAUTION: Collagenase active unit concentration and purity may varies from vendor to vendor, which may impede the efficiency of the tissue digestion and/or preservation of the epitope on the mucosal cell surface. To prevent these potential pitfalls, use collagenase with highest degree of purity (&#8805;95%) and prepare the stock solution based on the active units concentration.</li>
	<li>Prepare Water-based DNase stock solution at 10 mg/ml (3.55 UA/mg).</li>
	<li>Prepare Wash media: (MEM: 89 ml, Antibiotic-Antimycotic, 100x: 1 ml; heat-inactivated FCS: 10 ml)</li>
	<li>Prepare Fibroblast growth media: MEM: 500 ml bottle; L-glutamine (200 mM): 5 ml; MEM non-essential amino acids, 100x solution: 5 ml; ciprofloxacin HCl (10 mg/ml): 570 &#181;l; Antibiotic-Antimycotic, 100x solution: 10 ml; sodium pyruvate (100 mM): 5 ml; heat-inactivated FCS: 50 ml</li>
	<li>Prepare Freeze media: Fibroblast growth media (Reagent 2.4) with the addition of 10% Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO), then filter-sterilize with a 0.22 &#181;m filter.</li>
</ol>
3. Enzymatically Digest Human Tissue
<ol>
	<li>If the tissue was frozen in freeze media, place cryovial in warm (~ 37 &#176;C) water until tissue and media is thawed.</li>
	<li>For 4 - 5 of 2 mm2 pieces of tissue, wash tissue twice with 10 ml of HBSS without Ca2+/Mg2+.</li>
	<li>Once tissue has settled by gravity, carefully discard the supernatant without spinning sample.</li>
	<li>Add 10 ml of the collagenase solution to the sample and transfer the tissue-solution mixture into a sterile, DNase/RNase-free tube with built-in rotors for sample dissociation. Use collagenase to dissociate the extracellular matrix which surrounds the basal aspect of epithelial cells and forms the non-cellular fraction of the mucosal lamina propria.</li>
	<li>Tightly close tube and attach it upside down onto the sleeve of the dissociator (e.g., GentleMACs). If the lab does not have the access to the aforementioned equipment, increase the time of each digestion step to obtain comparable results.</li>
	<li>Run the Program h_tumor_01, a pre-set profile included with the machine (total duration of 36 sec, with intermittent pulses ranging from 1,000 - 4,000 rpm, with 268 rounds per run).</li>
	<li>After termination of the program, detach tube from the dissociator.</li>
	<li>Incubate sample for 45 min at 37 &#176;C under continuous rotation on shaker at 140 rpm. Note: For varying amounts of tissue samples, time of digestion can be proportionally reduced or increased (i.e., larger amounts of tissue may require additional time).</li>
	<li>Attach tube upside down onto the sleeve of the dissociator.</li>
	<li>Choose and run the Program h_tumor_02 (total duration of 37 sec, with intermittent pulses ranging from 1,000 - 4,000 rpm, with 235 rounds per run).</li>
	<li>After termination of the program, detach tube from the dissociator.</li>
	<li>Add 50 &#181;l of DNase stock solution. Use DNAse to dissociate/remove dead cells and DNA fraction of cellular debris that leads to cell clumping.</li>
	<li>Incubate sample for 30 min at 37 &#176;C under continuous rotation on shaker at 60 rpm.</li>
	<li>Attach tube upside down onto the sleeve of the dissociator&#160;again.</li>
	<li>Choose and run the Program h_tumor_03 (total duration of 37 sec, with intermittent pulses ranging from 1,000 - 4,000 rpm, with 168 rounds per run). 
	Note: If the tissue is not completely digested, centrifuge at 250 &#215; g for 10 min at 20 &#176;C, discard supernatant, resuspend in 2 ml of cell dissociation solution and incubate at RT&#160;for 10 min.</li>
	<li>Pass the cell suspension through sterile 70 &#181;m cell strainer.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge cell suspension at 250 &#215; g for 10 min at 20 &#176;C. Aspirate supernatant completely.</li>
	<li>Wash cell pellet twice with 25 ml of HBSS without Ca2+/Mg2+ and discard the supernatant.</li>
	<li>Prior to the last wash, count cell number using an automated cell counting system available in the laboratory or manually using hemocytometer. For MF primary culture generation proceed for step 3.19.1, for the analysis or sorting of MFs using flow cytometry proceed for step 3.19.2.
	<ol>
		<li>For isolation and growth of pure MF culture (Figure 1), discard the supernatant from last centrifugation, resuspend cell pellet in the appropriate amount of fibroblast isolation media needed to seed up to 4 x 106 cells in 3 ml of the media per well in 6 well, cell culture-treated plates. Proceed to step 3.20.</li>
		<li>For the analysis or sorting of MFs using flow cytometry, place up to 2 x 106 in 2 ml of fibroblast isolation media in 24 well, low-binding plate and incubate O/N&#160;at 37 &#176;C with 5% CO2. This is to restore the cell surface epitopes that may be affected by the enzymatic procedure. Then collect cell suspension and count recovered cells and proceed for the immunostaining and flow cytometry analysis8.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Grow cells at 37 &#176;C with 5% CO2. Change media every 2 - 3 days until formation of ~ 80% confluent MF monolayer (Figure 1D-E).</li>
	<li>Passage cells in T25 flasks with from 6 well plate at ratio 1:1 and grow for ~ 10 - 14 days in fibroblast growth media to achieve 80 - 100% confluency.</li>
	<li>Expand culture by passaging cells from T25 to T75 cells at ratio 1:2. Once cells reach confluency, use one flask for the analysis of isolated MF purity using by flow cytometry as described previously5. Freeze or passage another T75 flask of MF culture at ratio 1:3. 
	Note: When analyzed by flow cytometry, it is expected that GI mucosa stromal MF of mesenchymal origin when growing in culture will have following phenotype: EpCAM-, CD31-, CD45-, vimentin+, &#945;-SMA+, CD90+.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Yamaguchi, H., 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+Mediate+Extracellular+Matrix+Remodeling+and+Invasion+of+Scirrhous+Gastric+Carcinoma+Cells.">Stromal Fibroblasts Mediate Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Invasion of Scirrhous Gastric Carcinoma Cells.</a> PLoS ONE. 9, e85485 (2014).</li><li>Mullan, N., Hughes, K. R., Mahida, Y. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Primary+Human+Colonic+Myofibroblasts+Are+Resistant+to+Clostridium+difficile+Toxin+A-Induced,+but+Not+Toxin+B-Induced,+Cell+Death.">Primary Human Colonic Myofibroblasts Are Resistant to Clostridium difficile Toxin A-Induced, but Not Toxin B-Induced, Cell Death.</a> Infect Immun. 79, 1623-1630 (2011).</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.+Annu+Rev+Physiol.">Mesenchymal Cells of the Intestinal Lamina Propria. Annu Rev Physiol.</a> Annu Rev Physiol . 73, 213-237 (2011).</li><li>Latella, G., Sferra, R., Speca, S., Vetuschi, A., Gaudio, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Can+we+prevent,+reduce+or+reverse+intestinal+fibrosis+in+IBD?.">Can we prevent, reduce or reverse intestinal fibrosis in IBD?.</a> Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 17, 1283-1304 (2013).</li><li>Saada, J. 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=Subepithelial+myofibroblasts+are+novel+nonprofessional+APCs+in+the+human+colonic+mucosa.">Subepithelial myofibroblasts are novel nonprofessional APCs in the human colonic mucosa.</a> J. Immunol. 177, 5968-5979 (2006).</li><li>Mahida, Y. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adult+human+colonic+subepithelial+myofibroblasts+express+extracellular+matrix+proteins+and+cyclooxygenase-1+and+-2.">Adult human colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts express extracellular matrix proteins and cyclooxygenase-1 and -2.</a> Am J Physiol. 273, G1341-G1348 (1997).</li><li>Roncoroni, 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=Isolation+and+culture+of+fibroblasts+from+endoscopic+duodenal+biopsies+of+celiac+patients.">Isolation and culture of fibroblasts from endoscopic duodenal biopsies of celiac patients.</a> J Transl Med. 7 (40), (2009).</li><li>Pinchuk, I. 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=Stromal+Cells+Induce+Th17+during+Helicobacter+pylori+Infection+and+in+the+Gastric+Tumor+Microenvironment.">Stromal Cells Induce Th17 during Helicobacter pylori Infection and in the Gastric Tumor Microenvironment.</a> PLoS ONE. 8, e53798 (2013).</li><li>Pinchuk, I. 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=Monocyte+chemoattractant+protein-1+production+by+intestinal+myofibroblasts+in+response+to+staphylococcal+enterotoxin+a:+relevance+to+staphylococcal+enterotoxigenic+disease.">Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production by intestinal myofibroblasts in response to staphylococcal enterotoxin a: relevance to staphylococcal enterotoxigenic disease.</a> J. Immunol. 178, 8097-8106 (2007).</li><li>Paulsson, J., Micke, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prognostic+relevance+of+cancer-associated+fibroblasts+in+human+cancer.">Prognostic relevance of cancer-associated fibroblasts in human cancer.</a> Sem Cancer Biol. 25, 61-68 (2014).</li><li>Valcz, G., Sipos, F., Tulassay, Z., Molnar, B., Yagi, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Importance+of+carcinoma-associated+fibroblast-derived+proteins+in+clinical+oncology.">Importance of carcinoma-associated fibroblast-derived proteins in clinical oncology.</a> J. Clin. Pathol. 67, 1026-1031 (2014).</li><li>Minonzio, 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=Frozen+adipose-derived+mesenchymal+stem+cells+maintain+high+capability+to+grow+and+differentiate.">Frozen adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells maintain high capability to grow and differentiate.</a> Cryobiology. 69, 211-216 (2014).</li><li>Gargus, M., Niu, C., Shaker, A. <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+Myofibroblasts+from+Mouse+and+Human+Esophagus.">Isolation of Myofibroblasts from Mouse and Human Esophagus.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (95), e52215 (2015).</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> J. Vis. Exp. (80), e50611 (2013).</li><li>Schiller, J. H., Bittner, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Loss+of+the+Tumorigenic+Phenotype+with+in+Vitro,+but+not+in+Vivo,+Passaging+of+a+Novel+Series+of+Human+Bronchial+Epithelial+Cell+Lines:+Possible+Role+of+an+&#945;5/&#946;1-Integrin-Fibronectin+Interaction.">Loss of the Tumorigenic Phenotype with in Vitro, but not in Vivo, Passaging of a Novel Series of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell Lines: Possible Role of an &#945;5/&#946;1-Integrin-Fibronectin Interaction.</a> Cancer Res. 55, 6215-6221 (1995).</li><li>Augello, A., Kurth, T. B., De Bari, 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+stem+cells:+a+perspective+from+in+vitro+cultures+to+in+vivo+migration+and+niches.">Mesenchymal stem cells: a perspective from in vitro cultures to in vivo migration and niches.</a> Eur Cell Mater. 20, 121-133 (2010).</li><li>Meller, D., Pires, R. T. F., Tseng, S. C. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ex+vivo+preservation+and+expansion+of+human+limbal+epithelial+stem+cells+on+amniotic+membrane+cultures.">Ex vivo preservation and expansion of human limbal epithelial stem cells on amniotic membrane cultures.</a> Br J Ophthalmol. 86, 463-471 (2002).</li><li>Kuhlmann, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+prophylactic+use+of+antibiotics+in+cell+culture.">The prophylactic use of antibiotics in cell culture.</a> Cytotechnology. 19, 95-105 (1995).</li><li>Morris, K. T., Nofchissey, R. A., Pinchuk, I. V., Beswick, E. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chronic+Macrophage+Migration+Inhibitory+Factor+Exposure+Induces+Mesenchymal+Epithelial+Transition+and+Promotes+Gastric+and+Colon+Cancers.">Chronic Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Exposure Induces Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition and Promotes Gastric and Colon Cancers.</a> PLoS ONE. 9, e98656 (2014).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

While this protocol was developed for the research application only, in the light of growing critical importance of stromal cells as a potential cancer prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic target, the ability to freeze &#34;functional&#34; biospecimens for later use offers a significant advantage. This represents a unique advantage for creation of clinical biorepository, which may serve as additional tools serving to advance the development of personalized medicine10, 11. Similar to findings previously report...

Myofibroblasts/fibroblasts (MFs) represent an abundant population of cells in gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa. These stromal cells are located just beneath the epithelium and form an interconnected network within mucosal lamina propria in the gut. MFs are not only responsible for the deposition of the extracellular matrix, but through paracrine regulation may influence electrolyte transport, restitution, and barrier function of the adjacent epithelium1, 2. Furthermore, MFs have been shown to play a key role in inflammation and tissue remodeling3, 4. Myofibroblasts are a critical part of the tumor microenvironment, where they are also known as cancer-associated fibroblasts, and contribute to the tumor cell growth and serve as a niche for cancer stem cells3. Emerging data suggests that MFs may also serve as local antigen presenting cells. Additionally, MFs function as important regulators of innate and adaptive immune responses, producing a variety of cytokines and growth factors5.
In healthy individuals, MFs cells are believed to differentiate from mesenchymal stem cells and express on their cell surface, the mesenchymal marker, CD903, 5. These cells are also positive for vimentin, but negative for epithelial and hematopoietic cell marker, EpCAM and CD45, respectively. Myofibroblasts are suggested to be an activated form of fibroblasts and can be distinguished from non-activated fibroblasts by the expression of &#945;-SMA5.
Over the past decade, multiple approaches for the isolation of myofibroblasts from human colonic mucosa have been published-mostly based on the method originally described by Mahida et al.5-8. While individual studies report isolation procedures from various gut mucosa, no universal protocol for the isolation of MFs from multiple areas of the GI tract (i.e., gastric, small and large intestinal mucosa) has been published. The protocol presented herein has been tested and successfully used for all three type of tissue mentioned above. . Furthermore, procedures for isolating MFs from frozen GI mucosa have not been reported.
Here, we present an optimized method, which is based on enzymatic digestion, and concurrently allows for the isolation of human gut mucosal MFs for culture and flow cytometry analysis in freshly-digested, single cell, mucosal preparations. This technique reliably yields primary cultures with an MF phenotype. Furthermore, the same methods can be used to isolate MFs from frozen specimens of gastric and small intestinal tissues&#160;as well. Isolation of myofibroblasts from fresh GI tissue has been previously described; however, the utilization of frozen specimens presents many benefits. Namely, researchers would be able to collect and store tissues from any number of collaborators across the world who have the capability to ship frozen tissue samples. Moreover, researchers may find the collection of discarded tissue from the operating room and/or endoscopy suite and immediate processing the tissue for isolation to conflict with their current experimentation schedule. Also, due to the unpredictable nature of surgery, tissue procurement may occur very late in the day, which will limit the time left for processing tissue. Freezing tissue for later processing will ameliorate these challenges.
Lastly, these methods have been successfully utilized in the isolation of colonic, gastric and small intestinal myofibroblasts in disease states such as colorectal carcinoma and inflammatory bowel diseases.

<table><tbody><tr><td>MEM, 1x</td><td>Corning</td><td>MT-10-010-CV</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hanks&#039; Balanced Salt Solution</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>H6648</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sodium pyruvate</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>S8636</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Antibiotic-Antimycotic, 100x</td><td>Gibco</td><td>15240-062</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ciprofloxacin HCl</td><td>Corning</td><td>61-277-RF</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>L-Glutamine, 100x</td><td>Corning</td><td>25-005-CI</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MEM Nonessential Amino Acids</td><td>Corning</td><td>25-025-CI</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Hybri-Max</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>D2650</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>DL-Dithiothreitol solution (DTT)</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>646563</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>0.5 M EDTA, pH 8.0</td><td>Cellgro</td><td>46-034-CI</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>DNAse</td><td>Worthington</td><td>LS002139</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Collagenase from&amp;nbsp;Clostridium histolyticum, Type I</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>C1639</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Collagenase from&amp;nbsp;Clostridium histolyticum, Type II</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>C1764</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum, Type IV</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>C5138</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Accumax cell dissociation solution</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>A7089</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>gentleMACS C Tubes</td><td>Miltenyi Biotec</td><td>130-093-237</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>gentleMACS Dissociator</td><td>Miltenyi Biotec</td><td>130-093-235</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Countess Automated Cell Counter</td><td>Invitrogen</td><td>C10227</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cell Strainer (70 &amp;micro;m)</td><td>Corning</td><td>352350</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PE Mouse Anti-Human Vimentin</td><td>BD Biosciences</td><td>562337</td><td>Clone RV202</td></tr><tr><td>FITC Monoclonal Anti-Actin, &amp;alpha;-Smooth Muscle</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>F3777</td><td>Clone 1A4</td></tr><tr><td>APC Mouse Anti-Human CD90</td><td>BD Biosciences</td><td>559869</td><td>Clone 5E10</td></tr></tbody></table>

isolation of cd 90+ fibroblast/myofibroblasts from human frozen gastrointestinal specimens

Fibroblasts/myofibroblasts (MFs) have been gaining increasing attention for their role in pathogenesis and their contributions to both wound healing and promotion of the tumor microenvironment. While there are currently many techniques for the isolation of MFs from gastrointestinal (GI) tissues, this protocol introduces a novel element of isolation of these stromal cells from frozen tissue. Freezing GI tissue specimens not only allows the researcher to acquire samples from worldwide collaborators, biobanks, and commercial vendors, it also permits the delayed processing of fresh samples. The described protocol will consistently yield characteristic spindle-shaped cells with the MF phenotype that express the markers CD90, &#945;-SMA and vimentin. As these cells are derived from patient samples, the use of primary cells also confers the benefit of closely mimicking MFs from disease states-namely cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. This technique has been validated in gastric, small bowel, and colonic MF primary culture generation. Primary MF cultures can be used in a vast array of experiments over a number of passage and their purity assessed by both immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis.

Using this enzymatic digestion protocol, we have consistently been able to isolate and grow MF population gut CD90+ mucosal stromal cells from GI surgical specimens and biopsies (Figure 1). Visible MF colony proliferation could be observed on day 2 - 5 after seeding mononuclear cell suspensions into 6 well plates (Figure 1A-B). The MF primary cultures reach ~ 50 - 70 % confluence by day 7 - 11 (Figure 1C-D).
<p class="jove_...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of CD 90+ Fibroblast/Myofibroblasts from Human Frozen Gastrointestinal Specimens at JoVE.com

Isolation of CD 90+ Fibroblast/Myofibroblasts from Human Frozen Gastrointestinal Specimens

Here, a protocol to isolate and establish primary fibroblast/myofibroblast (MF) cultures from frozen gastric, small intestinal, and colonic tissue-yielding cells with a MF phenotype-is presented. These cells express CD90, &#945;-SMA and vimentin. MFs can be used for a variety of functional assays including enzymatic activity and cytokine production.


Fibroblasts/myofibroblasts (MFs) have been gaining increasing attention for their role in pathogenesis and their contributions to both wound healing and ...

isolation-cd-90-fibroblastmyofibroblasts-from-human-frozen

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

9.5K Views.  University of Texas Medical Branch. Here, a protocol to isolate and establish primary fibroblast/myofibroblast (MF) cultures from frozen gastric, small intestinal, and colonic tissue-yielding cells with a MF phenotype-is presented. These cells express CD90, α-SMA and vimentin. MFs can be used for a variety of functional assays including enzymatic activity and cytokine production. 

Video: Isolation of CD 90+ Fibroblast/Myofibroblasts from Human Frozen Gastrointestinal Specimens

Isolation and Quantitative Immunocytochemical Characterization of Primary Myogenic Cells and Fibroblasts from Human Skeletal Muscle

The repair and regeneration of skeletal muscle requires the action of satellite cells, which are the resident muscle stem cells. These can be isolated from human muscle biopsy samples using enzymatic digestion and their myogenic properties studied in culture. Quantitatively, the two main adherent cell types obtained from enzymatic digestion are: (i) the satellite cells (termed myogenic cells or muscle precursor cells), identified initially as CD56+ and later as CD56+/desmin+ cells and (ii) muscle-derived fibroblasts, identified as CD56&#8211; and TE-7+. Fibroblasts proliferate very efficiently in culture and in mixed cell populations these cells may overrun myogenic cells to dominate the culture. The isolation and purification of different cell types from human muscle is thus an important methodological consideration when trying to investigate the innate behavior of either cell type in culture. Here we describe a system of sorting based on the gentle enzymatic digestion of cells using collagenase and dispase followed by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) which gives both a high purity (&#62;95% myogenic cells) and good yield (~2.8 x 106 &#177; 8.87 x 105 cells/g tissue after 7 days in vitro) for experiments in culture. This approach is based on incubating the mixed muscle-derived cell population with magnetic microbeads beads conjugated to an antibody against CD56 and then passing cells though a magnetic field. CD56+ cells bound to microbeads are retained by the field whereas CD56&#8211; cells pass unimpeded through the column. Cell suspensions from any stage of the sorting process can be plated and cultured. Following a given intervention, cell morphology, and the expression and localization of proteins including nuclear transcription factors can be quantified using immunofluorescent labeling with specific antibodies and an image processing and analysis package.

The main adherent cell types derived from human muscle are myogenic cells and fibroblasts. Here, cell populations are enriched using magnetic-activated cell sorting based on the CD56 antigen. Subsequent immunolabelling with specific antibodies and use of image analysis techniques allows quantification of cytoplasmic and nuclear characteristics in individual cells.

The repair and regeneration of skeletal muscle requires the action of satellite cells, which are the resident muscle stem cells. These can be isolated ...

Murine Dermal Fibroblast Isolation by FACS

Fibroblasts are the principle cell type responsible for secreting extracellular matrix and are a critical component of many organs and tissues. Fibroblast physiology and pathology underlie a spectrum of clinical entities, including fibroses in multiple organs, hypertrophic scarring following burns, loss of cardiac function following ischemia, and the formation of cancer stroma. However, fibroblasts remain a poorly characterized type of cell, largely due to their inherent heterogeneity. Existing methods for the isolation of fibroblasts require time in cell culture that profoundly influences cell phenotype and behavior. Consequently, many studies investigating fibroblast biology rely upon in vitro manipulation and do not accurately capture fibroblast behavior in vivo. To overcome this problem, we developed a FACS-based protocol for the isolation of fibroblasts from the dorsal skin of adult mice that does not require cell culture, thereby preserving the physiologic transcriptional and proteomic profile of each cell. Our strategy allows for exclusion of non-mesenchymal lineages via a lineage negative gate (Lin-) rather than a positive selection strategy to avoid pre-selection or enrichment of a subpopulation of fibroblasts expressing specific surface markers and be as inclusive as possible across this heterogeneous cell type.

Fibroblast behavior underlies a spectrum of clinical entities, but they remain poorly characterized, largely due to their inherent heterogeneity. Traditional fibroblast research relies upon in vitro manipulation, masking in vivo fibroblast behavior. We describe a FACS-based protocol for the isolation of mouse skin fibroblasts that does not require cell culture.

Fibroblasts are the principle cell type responsible for secreting extracellular matrix and are a critical component of many organs and tissues. Fibroblast ...

Isolation of Papillary and Reticular Fibroblasts from Human Skin by Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting

Fibroblasts are a highly heterogeneous cell population implicated in the pathogenesis of many human diseases. In human skin dermis, fibroblasts have traditionally been attributed to the superficial papillary or lower reticular dermis according to their histological localization. In mouse dermis, papillary and reticular fibroblasts originate from two different lineages with diverging functions regarding physiological and pathological processes and a distinct cell surface marker expression profile by which they can be distinguished.
Importantly, evidence from explant cultures from superficial and lower dermal layers suggest that at least two functionally distinct dermal fibroblasts lineages exist in human skin dermis as well. However, unlike for mouse skin, cell surface markers enabling the discrimination of different fibroblast subsets have not yet been established for human skin. We developed a novel protocol for the isolation of human papillary and reticular fibroblast populations via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) using the two cell surface markers Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) and Thymocyte antigen 1 (Thy1)/CD90. This method enables the isolation of pure fibroblast subsets without in vitro manipulation, which was shown to affect gene expression, thus permitting accurate functional analysis of human dermal fibroblast subsets in regard to tissue homeostasis or disease pathology.

This manuscript describes a FACS-based protocol for isolation of papillary and reticular fibroblasts from human skin. It circumvents in vitro culture which was inevitable with the commonly used isolation protocol via explant cultures. The emanating fibroblast subsets are functionally distinct and display differential gene expression and localization within the dermis.

Fibroblasts are a highly heterogeneous cell population implicated in the pathogenesis of many human diseases. In human skin dermis, fibroblasts have ...

Genetics

Isolation and Immortalization of Patient-derived Cell Lines from Muscle Biopsy for Disease Modeling

The generation of patient-specific cell lines represents an invaluable tool for diagnostic or translational research, and these cells can be collected from skin or muscle biopsy tissue available during the patient&#8217;s diagnostic workup. In this protocol, we describe a technique for live cell isolation from small amounts of muscle or skin tissue for primary cell culture. Additionally, we provide a technique for the immortalization of myogenic cell lines and fibroblast cell lines from primary cells. Once cell lines are immortalized, substantial expansion of patient-derived cells can be achieved. Immortalized cells are amenable to many downstream applications, including drug screening and in vitro correction of the genetic mutation. Altogether, these protocols provide a reliable tool to generate and preserve patient-derived cells for downstream applications.

This protocol describes techniques for live cell isolation and primary culture of myogenic and fibroblast cell lines from muscle or skin tissue. A technique for the immortalization of these cell lines is also described. Altogether, these protocols provide a reliable tool to generate and preserve patient-derived cells for downstream applications.

The generation of patient-specific cell lines represents an invaluable tool for diagnostic or translational research, and these cells can be collected ...

Medicine

Isolation of Adult Human Dermal Fibroblasts from Abdominal Skin and Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Non-Integrating Method

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could be considered, to date, a promising source of pluripotent cells for the management of currently untreatable diseases, for the reconstitution and regeneration of injured tissues and for the development of new drugs. Despite all the advantages related to the use of iPSCs, such as the low risk of rejection, the lessened ethical issues, and the possibility to obtain them from both young and old patients without any difference in their reprogramming potential, problems to overcome are still numerous. In fact, cell reprogramming conducted with viral and integrating viruses can cause infections and the introduction of required genes can induce a genomic instability of the recipient cell, impairing their use in clinic. In particular, there are many concerns about the use of c-Myc gene, well-known from several studies for its mutation-inducing activity. Fibroblasts have emerged as the suitable cell population for cellular reprogramming as they are easy to isolate and culture and are harvested by a minimally invasive skin punch biopsy. The protocol described here provides a detailed step-by-step description of the whole procedure, from sample processing to obtain cell cultures, choice of reagents and supplies, cleaning and preparation, to cell reprogramming by the means of a commercial non-modified RNAs (NM-RNAs)-based reprogramming kit. The chosen reprogramming kit allows an effective reprogramming of human dermal fibroblast to iPSCs and small colonies can be seen as early as 24 h after the first transfection, even with modifications with the respect to the standard datasheet. The reprogramming procedure used in this protocol offers the advantage of a safe reprogramming, without the risk of infections caused by viral vector-based methods, reduces the cellular defense mechanisms, and allows the generation of xeno-free iPSCs, all critical features that are mandatory for further clinical applications.

Cell reprogramming requires the introduction of key genes, which regulate and maintain the pluripotent cell state. The protocol described enables the formation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) colonies from human dermal fibroblasts without viral/integrating methods but using non-modified RNAs (NM-RNAs) combined with immune evasion factors reducing cellular defense mechanisms.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could be considered, to date, a promising source of pluripotent cells for the management of currently untreatable ...

Bioengineering

Isolation of Primary Myofibroblasts from Mouse and Human Colon Tissue

The myofibroblast is a stromal cell of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that has been gaining considerable attention for its critical role in many GI functions. While several myofibroblast cell lines are commercially available to study these cells in vitro, research results from a cell line exposed to experimental cell culture conditions have inherent limitations due to the overly reductionist nature of the work. Use of primary myofibroblasts offers a great advantage in terms of confirming experimental findings identified in a cell line. Isolation of primary myofibroblasts from an animal model allows for the study of myofibroblasts under conditions that more closely mimic the disease state being studied. Isolation of primary myofibroblasts from human colon tissue provides arguably the most relevant experimental data, since the cells come directly from patients with the underlying disease. We describe a well-established technique that can be utilized to isolate primary myofibroblasts from both mouse and human colon tissue. These isolated cells have been characterized to be alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin-positive, and desmin-negative, consistent with subepithelial intestinal myofibroblasts. Primary myofibroblast cells can be grown in cell culture and used for experimental purposes over a limited number of passages.

The myofibroblast is an influential stromal cell of the gastrointestinal tract that regulates important physiologic processes in both normal and disease states. We describe a technique that allows for the isolation of primary myofibroblasts from both mouse and human colon tissue, which can be utilized for in vitro experimentation.

The myofibroblast is  a stromal cell of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that has been gaining  considerable attention for its critical role in many GI ...

Biology

Ultrasonic-augmented Primary Adult Fibroblast Isolation

Primary adult fibroblasts have become an important tool to study fibrosis, fibroblast interactions and inflammation in all body tissues. Since primary fibroblasts cannot divide indefinitely due to myofibroblast differentiation or senescence induction, new cultures must be established regularly. However, there are several obstacles to overcome during the processes of developing a reliable isolation protocol and primary fibroblast isolation itself: the method&#8217;s degree of difficulty (especially for beginners), the risk of bacterial contamination, the required time until primary fibroblasts can be used for experiments, and subsequent cell quality and viability. In this study, a fast, reliable and easy-to-learn protocol to isolate and culture primary adult fibroblasts from mouse heart, lung, liver and kidney combining enzymatic digestion and ultrasonic agitation is provided.

We present a protocol to isolate primary adult fibroblasts in an easy, fast and reliable way, performable by beginners (e.g., students). The procedure combines enzymatic tissue digestion and mechanical agitation with ultrasonic waves to obtain primary fibroblasts. The protocol can easily be adapted to specific experimental requirements (e.g., human tissue).

Primary adult fibroblasts have become an important tool to study fibrosis, fibroblast interactions and inflammation in all body tissues. Since primary ...

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.

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, Culture, and Characterization of Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Human Keloid Tissue

Fibroblasts, the major cell type in keloid tissue, play an essential role in the formation and development&#160;of keloids. The isolation and culture of primary fibroblasts derived from keloid tissue are the basis for further studies of the biological function and molecular mechanisms of keloids, as well as new therapeutic strategies for treating them. The traditional method of obtaining primary fibroblasts has limitations, such as poor cellular state, mixing with other types of cells, and susceptibility to contamination. This paper describes an optimized and easily reproducible protocol that could reduce the occurrence of possible issues when obtaining fibroblasts. In this protocol, fibroblasts can be observed 5 days after isolation and reach nearly 80% confluency after 10 days of culture. Then, the fibroblasts are passaged and verified using PDGFR&#945; and vimentin antibodies for immunofluorescence assays and CD90 antibodies for flow cytometry. In conclusion, fibroblasts from keloid tissue can be easily acquired through this protocol, which can provide an abundant and stable source of cells in the laboratory for keloid research.

This study describes an optimized protocol for establishing primary fibroblasts from keloid tissues that can effectively and steadily provide pure and viable fibroblasts.

Fibroblasts, the major cell type in keloid tissue, play an essential role in the formation and development&#160;of keloids. The isolation and culture of ...

Isolation and Characterization of Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts

Cardiac fibrosis in response to injury is a physiological response to wound healing. Efforts have been made to study and target fibroblast subtypes that mitigate fibrosis. However, fibroblast research has been hindered due to the lack of universally acceptable fibroblast markers to identify quiescent as well as activated fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are a heterogenous cell population, making them difficult to isolate and characterize. The presented protocol describes three different methods to enrich fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from uninjured and injured mouse hearts. Using a standard and reliable protocol to isolate fibroblasts will enable the study of their roles in homeostasis as well as fibrosis modulation.

Obtaining a pure population of fibroblasts is crucial to studying their role in wound repair and fibrosis. Described here is a detailed method to isolate fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from uninjured and injured mouse hearts followed by characterization of their purity and functionality by immunofluorescence, RTPCR, fluorescence-assisted cell sorting, and collagen gel contraction.

Cardiac fibrosis in response to injury is a physiological response to wound healing. Efforts have been made to study and target fibroblast subtypes that ...