Name: optimized scratch assay for in vitro testing of cell migration with an automated optical camera
Uploaded: 2018-08-08T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optimized Scratch Assay for In Vitro Testing of Cell Migration with an Automated Optical Camera Video at JoVE.com

Danish Council for Independent Research, Technology and Production, grant #4005-00029

The experimental setup has no ethical and legal restriction and was conducted in agreement with Roskilde University. An overview of the experimental set-up can be seen in Figure 1 and the mechanisms of the optical camera in Figure 2.
1. Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Perform all steps in a sterile laminar flow-bench by cleaning the bench and all equipments with 70% ethanol prior to the start of the experiment.</li>
	<li>Place the optical cam...

<ol>
	<li>Frykberg, R. G., Banks, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Challenges+in+the+Treatment+of+Chronic+Wounds.">Challenges in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds.</a> Advances in wound care. 4 (9), 560-582 (2015).</li><li>da Silva, L., Carvalho, E., Cruz, M. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Role+of+neuropeptides+in+skin+inflammation+and+its+involvement+in+diabetic+wound+healing.">Role of neuropeptides in skin inflammation and its involvement in diabetic wound healing.</a> Expert opinion on biological therapy. 10 (10), 1427-1439 (2010).</li><li>Vyas, K. S., Wong, L. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Detection+of+Biofilm+in+Wounds+as+an+Early+Indicator+for+Risk+for+Tissue+Infection+and+Wound+Chronicity.">Detection of Biofilm in Wounds as an Early Indicator for Risk for Tissue Infection and Wound Chronicity.</a> Annals of Plastic Surgery. 76 (1), 127-131 (2016).</li><li>Paul, C. D., Mistriotis, P., Konstantopoulos, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cancer+cell+motility:+lessons+from+migration+in+confined+spaces.">Cancer cell motility: lessons from migration in confined spaces.</a> Nature Reviews Cancer. 17 (2), 131-140 (2016).</li><li>Folkman, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Angiogenesis.">Angiogenesis.</a> Annual review of medicine. 57, 1-18 (2006).</li><li>Monsuur, H. N., 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=Methods+to+study+differences+in+cell+mobility+during+skin+wound+healing+in+vitro.">Methods to study differences in cell mobility during skin wound healing in vitro.</a> Journal of Biomechanics. 49 (8), 1381-1387 (2016).</li><li>Tang, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+lactoferrin+stimulates+skin+keratinocyte+function+and+wound+re-epithelialization.">Human lactoferrin stimulates skin keratinocyte function and wound re-epithelialization.</a> The British journal of dermatology. 163 (1), 38-47 (2010).</li><li>Ashby, W. J., Zijlstra, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Established+and+novel+methods+of+interrogating+two-dimensional+cell+migration.">Established and novel methods of interrogating two-dimensional cell migration.</a> Integrative Biology. 4 (11), 1338-1350 (2012).</li><li>Klettner, A., Tahmaz, N., Dithmer, M., Richert, E., Roider, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+aflibercept+on+primary+RPE+cells:+toxicity,+wound+healing,+uptake+and+phagocytosis.">Effects of aflibercept on primary RPE cells: toxicity, wound healing, uptake and phagocytosis.</a> British Journal of Ophthalmology. 98 (10), 1448-1452 (2014).</li><li>Doyle, W., Shide, E., Thapa, S., Chandrasekaran, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+energy+beverages+on+cultured+cells.">The effects of energy beverages on cultured cells.</a> Food and Chemical Toxicology. 50 (10), 3759-3768 (2012).</li><li>Zordan, M. D., Mill, C. P., Riese, D. J., Leary, J. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+high+throughput,+interactive+imaging,+bright-field+wound+healing+assay.">A high throughput, interactive imaging, bright-field wound healing assay.</a> Cytometry Part A. 79 (3), 227-232 (2011).</li><li>Keese, C. R., Wegener, J., Walker, S. R., Giaever, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrical+wound-healing+assay+for+cells+in+vitro.">Electrical wound-healing assay for cells in vitro.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 101 (6), 1554-1559 (2004).</li><li>Liang, C. C., Park, A. Y., Guan, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+scratch+assay:+a+convenient+and+inexpensive+method+for+analysis+of+cell+migration+in+vitro.">In vitro scratch assay: a convenient and inexpensive method for analysis of cell migration in vitro.</a> Nature Protocols. 2 (2), 329-333 (2007).</li><li>R&#228;s&#228;nen, K., Vaheri, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=TGF-beta1+causes+epithelial-mesenchymal+transition+in+HaCaT+derivatives,+but+induces+expression+of+COX-2+and+migration+only+in+benign,+not+in+malignant+keratinocytes.">TGF-beta1 causes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HaCaT derivatives, but induces expression of COX-2 and migration only in benign, not in malignant keratinocytes.</a> Journal of Dermatological Science. 58 (2), 97-104 (2010).</li><li>Tochio, T., Tanaka, H., Nakata, S., Hosoya, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate+aldolase+A+is+involved+in+HaCaT+cell+migration+by+inducing+lamellipodia+formation.">Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase A is involved in HaCaT cell migration by inducing lamellipodia formation.</a> Journal of Dermatological Science. 58 (2), 123-129 (2010).</li><li>Tomasz, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mitomycin+C:+small,+fast+and+deadly+(but+very+selective).">Mitomycin C: small, fast and deadly (but very selective).</a> Chemistry and Biology. 2 (9), 575-579 (1995).</li><li>Stamm, A., Reimers, K., Strau&#223;, S., Vogt, P., Scheper, T., Pepelanova, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+wound+healing+assays+-+state+of+the+art.">In vitro wound healing assays - state of the art.</a> BioNanoMaterials. 17 (1-2), 79-87 (2016).</li><li>Justus, C. R., Leffler, N., Ruiz-Echevarria, M., Yang, L. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+Cell+Migration+and+Invasion+Assays.">In vitro Cell Migration and Invasion Assays.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments. (88), 1-8 (2014).</li><li>Jonkman, J. E. N., 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=An+introduction+to+the+wound+healing+assay+using+live-cell+microscopy.">An introduction to the wound healing assay using live-cell microscopy.</a> Cell Adhesion &amp; Migration. 8 (5), 440-451 (2016).</li><li>Hong, J., Kandasamy, K., Marimuthu, M., Choi, C. S., Kim, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrical+cell-substrate+impedance+sensing+as+a+non-invasive+tool+for+cancer+cell+study.">Electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing as a non-invasive tool for cancer cell study.</a> The Analyst. 136 (2), 237-245 (2011).</li><li>Fredborg, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Real-time+optical+antimicrobial+susceptibility+testing.">Real-time optical antimicrobial susceptibility testing.</a> Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 51 (7), 2047-2053 (2013).</li><li>Jenssen, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anti+herpes+simplex+virus+activity+of+lactoferrin/lactoferricin+-+An+example+of+antiviral+activity+of+antimicrobial+protein/peptide.">Anti herpes simplex virus activity of lactoferrin/lactoferricin - An example of antiviral activity of antimicrobial protein/peptide.</a> Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 62 (24), 3002-3013 (2005).</li><li>Jenssen, H., Hancock, R. E. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antimicrobial+properties+of+lactoferrin.">Antimicrobial properties of lactoferrin.</a> Biochimie. 91 (1), 19-29 (2009).</li><li>Delva, E., Tucker, D. K., Kowalczyk, A. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+desmosome.">The desmosome.</a> Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology. 1 (2), 1-17 (2009).</li><li>Ponti, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Two+Distinct+Actin+Networks+Drive+the+Protrusion+of+Migrating+Cells.">Two Distinct Actin Networks Drive the Protrusion of Migrating Cells.</a> Science. 305 (5691), 1782-1786 (2004).</li><li>Canali, C., Spillum, E., Valvik, M., Agersnap, N., Olesen, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Whitepaper a Digital Time-Lapse Bright Field Technology To Drive Faster, Higher Throughput Bioanalysis. , (2016).</li><li>Peplow, P. V., Chatterjee, M. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+review+of+the+influence+of+growth+factors+and+cytokines+in+in+vitro+human+keratinocyte+migration.">A review of the influence of growth factors and cytokines in in vitro human keratinocyte migration.</a> Cytokine. 62 (1), 1-21 (2013).</li><li>Ilina, O., Friedl, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanisms+of+collective+cell+migration+at+a+glance.">Mechanisms of collective cell migration at a glance.</a> Journal of Cell Science. 122 (18), 3203-3208 (2009).</li></ol>

The importance of migration in studies of development, wound healing, immunology, and cancer has led to several different methods to study migration. Migration can either be an expression of the expansion or the closure of the gap by the cells. Most often closure of the scratch is tested, as it is easier to grow cells in a monolayer and then make a scratch than growing the cells in a specific form8. Our study demonstrates an optimized method for manual scratching, as the technique is easy to maste...

Migration is an important process that influences several physiological aspects. In wound healing, migration facilitates re-epithelization of the skin. In non-healing wounds, such as chronic wounds, opportunistic bacteria cause infection of the wound, and open wounds are ideal for bacteria growth and formation of biofilm1,2. Biofilm is one of the causes of the development of resistant bacteria, which is one of the biggest threats to our modern society3. In wound healing, the immune cells cannot penetrate the biofilm. In cancer, migration of the cancer cells is a pivotal step of metastasis, which is the primary cause of death for patients with solid tumors4,5. Therefore, it is crucial to be able to study migration.
The scratch assay is often used to test cell migration because it is cheap and easy to perform on adherent cell lines, such as fibroblast, endothelial, and epithelial cell lines6,7. Today, several methods exist for performing scratches8, and different materials have been reported to be used, including toothpicks9, cell scrapers10, lasers11, and electric currents12. All of the methods have different pros and cons, and the method should be decided upon according to the cell type, budget, and analysis tool. As an example, if the used cell type requires coating, manual pressure removal, e.g. with a toothpick or pipette tip, will influence migration within the area, a different method should be used. In this study, we will focus on manual scraping.
A downside for manual scraping is the variation of the size, shapes of the scratches, and accumulation of cell on the edges of the scratch. Many protocols exist, and a highly cited paper advises increased speed and/or thorough washing after scratching13. Additionally, several methods have been used to minimize proliferation, since the proliferation of the cells cannot be distinguished from migration and therefore may give false-positive results of migration. Some reported methods are serum starvation preceding the scratch14 and decreasing the amount of serum15. However, neither of these methods can ensure that there is no proliferation. Therefore, we report a pre-treatment of the cells with mitomycin C to ensure true results of migration. Mitomycin C is an antibiotic that inhibits DNA synthesis by forming a covalent bond with the DNA, which prevents the DNA from separating16. By pre-treating with mitomycin C and washing with PBS before scratching, the detected closure of the gap demonstrates the true migration of the cells (Figure 1).
A characteristic of all the methods is the need for a system to analyze the process of migration17. A common and an inexpensive method to analyze the progress is to use a light-field microscope to take images of the scratch at pre-determined time points, followed by an analysis of the closure of the gap in an image software18,19. This method is time-consuming, unreliable with regards to taking pictures at the same spot and focus, and the movement from incubator to camera forces cycles of temperature changes while pictures are taken. Other methods have been developed to detect migration by measuring the current flow. The current changes, as cells cover more space on the plate, which is read as an increase in the impedance20. By measuring impedance, the environment of the cells is not affected, and the method is therefore considered non-invasive. This method relies on specialized plates with gold electrodes, which are expensive, but they enable detection of many processes, such as cellular adherence, proliferation, migration, and cell death. A big disadvantage of this method is that the impedance measurement does not directly indicate migration, as factors such as temperature have a great impact on the impedance. Changes in the impedance can be caused by several factors that are not reviewed by the software, making the analysis of the data more difficult. Therefore, the lack of visualization requires a conventional light microscope to verify migration.
To overcome many of the downsides of the available techniques, we use a real-time automated optical camera. The optical camera is a detection system with a high-throughput microscope in a small platform with a lens, illumination unit, and a digital camera. It has a built-in software, which can test migration and proliferation among other things. To detect migration, two algorithms are used to analyze the growth and the migration kinetics of cells, which are called the proliferation and the wound healing analysis, respectively. The proliferation analysis is based on a two-step image segmentation algorithm that applies texture analysis to detect the difference between cell-covered areas (shown in yellow) and empty background areas by advanced histogram analysis. The wound healing analysis is based on a three-step algorithm that detects the cell monolayer, locates the wound gap, and determines the gap width. These steps are conducted at user-determined time-points, and the data is presented as covered area, gap width, and gap area. One of the great advantages of this machine is that it enables imaging of adherent cells through liquid because of the angle of the camera21. The camera lenstakes tilted images that are projected to a z-stack of a single z-plane generate to ensure that the pictures are in-focus (Figure 2). z-stacks are generated by merging the series of pictures (e.g. 40) taken perpendicular to the wound edge, and across the entire wound. The z-stacks enables capturing of the depth of the cell layer as well as an in-focus plane across the wound. Furthermore, the series of images can be put together to a video collection of the images, with the click of a button.
We demonstrate an optimized protocol for detection of migration in the keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. We tested Lactoferrin and its N-terminal peptide, Lactoferricin, from humans and cows, to analyze their effect on migration as these molecules have been demonstrated to have numerous applications as antimicrobial and immune modulating molecules22,23. The four compounds were compared to untreated HaCaT cells and epidermal growth factor (EGF) was used as a positive control.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="712">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">oCelloScope</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">BioSense Solution ApS</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:221px;">Optical camera</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">UniExplorer software&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">BioSense Solution ApS</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>(8.0.0.7144 (RL3))</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">HaCaT cell</td>
			<td style="width:156px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Donated from Bispebjerg Hospital</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">DMEM (1x) + GlutaMAX</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">31966-021</td>
			<td>Medium for HaCaT</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">FBS</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">10270</td>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">PBS</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">D837</td>
			<td>Without Mg+ and Ca2+</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Pencillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P0781</td>
			<td>Antibiotics</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Trypsin (10x)</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">T3924</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Mitomycin C</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Tocris</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3258</td>
			<td>Inhibits proliferation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Microtiter plate</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Greiner Bio-one</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">677 180</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Incubator</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Panasonic</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>37&#176;C, 5% CO2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Hemocytometer</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Assistent</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>T&#252;rk (0.1 mm)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Pipet boy</td>
			<td style="width:156px;">Accu-Jet pro</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

optimized scratch assay for in vitro testing of cell migration with an automated optical camera

Cell migration is an important process that influences many aspects of health, such as wound healing and cancer, and it is, therefore, crucial for developing methods to study the migration. The scratch assay has long been the most common in vitro method to test compounds with anti- and pro-migration properties because of its low cost and simple procedure. However, an often-reported problem of the assay is the accumulation of cells across the edge of the scratch. Furthermore, to obtain data from the assay, images of different exposures must be taken over a period of time at the exact same spot to compare the movements of the migration. Different analysis programs can be used to describe the scratch closure, but they are labor intensive, inaccurate, and forces cycles of temperature changes. In this study, we demonstrate an optimized method for testing the migration effect, e.g. with the naturally occurring proteins Human- and Bovine-Lactoferrin and their N-terminal peptide Lactoferricin on the epithelial cell line HaCaT. A crucial optimization is to wash and scratch in PBS, which eliminates the aforementioned accumulation of cells along the edge. This could be explained by the removal of cations, which have been shown to have an effect on keratinocyte cell-cell connection. To ensure true detection of migration, pre-treating with mitomycin C, a DNA synthesis inhibitor, was added to the protocol. Finally, we demonstrate the automated optical camera, which eliminates excessive temperature cycles, manual labor with scratch closure analysis, while improving on reproducibility and ensuring analysis of identical sections of the scratch over time.

HaCaT is a keratinocyte cell line, one of the most abundant cell types in the skin. When a wound occurs, the skin cells start to proliferate and migrate over to the wound bed to close the wound (Figure 3). Both processes are, therefore, of utmost importance for proper healing.
The optical camera can follow both processes in real-time. For migration, the system gives three data sets: cell covered are...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Optimized Scratch Assay for In Vitro Testing of Cell Migration with an Automated Optical Camera Video at JoVE.com

Optimized Scratch Assay for In Vitro Testing of Cell Migration with an Automated Optical Camera Video (Video) | JoVE

Here we describe a procedure to test the cell migration in vitro with an automated optical camera microscope. The scratch assay has been widely used where the closure of the scratch is followed for a set period. The optical microscope enables dependable and cheap detection of cell migration.

Optimized Scratch Assay for In Vitro Testing of Cell Migration with an Automated Optical Camera

Cell migration is an important process that influences many aspects of health, such as wound healing and cancer, and it is, therefore, crucial for ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Semi-automated Optical Heartbeat Analysis of Small Hearts

Semi-automated Optical Heartbeat Analysis of Small Hearts Video (Video) | JoVE

We have developed a method for analyzing high speed optical recordings from Drosophila, zebrafish and embryonic mouse hearts (Fink, et. al., 2009). Our ...

An In vitro FluoroBlok Tumor Invasion Assay

An In vitro FluoroBlok Tumor Invasion Assay Video (Video) | JoVE

The hallmark of metastatic cells is their ability to invade through the basement membrane and migrate to other parts of the body. Cells must be able to ...

Induction and Testing of Hypoxia in Cell Culture

Induction and Testing of Hypoxia in Cell Culture Video (Video) | JoVE

Hypoxia is defined as the reduction or lack of oxygen in organs, tissues, or cells.  This decrease of oxygen tension can be due to a reduced supply in ...

In vitro Cell Migration and Invasion Assays

In vitro Cell Migration and Invasion Assays Video (Video) | JoVE

Migration is a key property of live cells and critical for normal development, immune response, and disease processes such as cancer metastasis and ...

Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay for the In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis

Endothelial Cell Tube Formation Assay for the In Vitro Study of Angiogenesis Video (Video) | JoVE

Angiogenesis is a vital process for normal tissue development and wound healing, but is also associated with a variety of pathological conditions. Using ...

Flexible Measurement of Bioluminescent Reporters Using an Automated Longitudinal Luciferase Imaging Gas- and Temperature-optimized Recorder (ALLIGATOR)

Flexible Measurement of Bioluminescent Reporters Using an Automated Longitudinal Luciferase Imaging Gas- and Temperature-optimized Recorder ALLIGATOR Video (Video) | JoVE

Luciferase-based reporters of cellular gene expression are in widespread use for both longitudinal and end-point assays of biological activity. In ...

Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy

Imaging Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules with 2-dimensional Direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy Video (Video) | JoVE

The cytoskeleton, composed of actin microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments (IF), plays a key role in the control of cell shape, ...

Preparation of Cell Extracts by Cryogrinding in an Automated Freezer Mill

Preparation of Cell Extracts by Cryogrinding in an Automated Freezer Mill Video (Video) | JoVE

The ease of genetic manipulation and the strong evolutionary conservation of eukaryotic cellular machinery in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ...