The study was financially supported by National Science Centre, Poland (grant no. UMO-2017/25/N/NZ3/01886) and KNOW (Leading National Research Centre) Scientific Consortium &#34;Healthy Animal - Safe Food&#34;, decision of Ministry of Science and Higher Education No. 05-1/KNOW2/2015

1. Culture Maintenance
<ol>
	<li>Culture the P19 cell line in Maintenance Medium (Dulbecco&#39;s modified Eagle&#39;s medium with 4,500 mg/L of glucose supplemented with 10% FBS, 100 units/mL penicillin and 100 units/mL streptomycin). Incubate at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2.</li>
</ol>
2. Sub-culturing Cells
<ol>
	<li>When cells reach approximately 80% confluence, remove the spent medium from the cell culture flasks (surface area 25 cm2).</li>
	<li>Wash the cells with 2 mL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) free of calcium and magnesium.</li>
	<li>Add 1 mL of 0.25% trypsin-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) onto the cell monolayer.</li>
	<li>Put the flask in the CO2 incubator (37 &#176;C and 5% CO2) for 2-3&#160;min.</li>
	<li>Assess the cell attachment to the flask surface. Ensure that all of the cells are detached and floating in the medium.</li>
	<li>Add 9 mL of Maintenance Medium to stop&#160;the enzymatic activity of trypsin.</li>
	<li>Resuspend the cells in Maintenance Medium.</li>
	<li>Transfer cells to a 15 mL tube and centrifuge for 5 min at 200 x g and room temperature (RT).</li>
	<li>Discard the supernatant and add 10 mL of fresh Maintenance Medium into the 15 mL tube.</li>
	<li>Use the cell suspension to determine the cell number using a cell counter according to manufacturer&#39;s instructions.</li>
	<li>Seed cells at 2 x 104 cells/cm2 in a new 25 cm2 flask.</li>
	<li>Add the Maintenance Medium up to 10 mL.</li>
	<li>Put the flask with cells in the CO2 incubator (37 &#176;C and 5% CO2) for 2-3 days.</li>
</ol>
3. Trypsin Digestion
<ol>
	<li>Aspirate Maintenance Medium from the cell flask. Wash the cells once with 2&#160;mL of calcium and magnesium-free PBS.</li>
	<li>Add 1 mL of 0.25% trypsin-EDTA.</li>
	<li>Put the flask with cells into the CO2 incubator at 37 &#176;C for 2-3 min.</li>
	<li>Use 1 mL pipette to dissociate the cells by pipetting cells ten times.</li>
	<li>Neutralize trypsin by adding 9&#160;mL of Differentiation Medium (Dulbecco&#39;s modified Eagle&#39;s medium with 4500 mg/L of glucose supplemented with 5% FBS, 100 units/mL penicillin and 100 units/mL streptomycin) without RA to the cells.</li>
	<li>Transfer cells to a 15 mL tube and centrifuge for 5 min at 200 x g and RT.</li>
	<li>Discard the supernatant and add 1 mL of Differentiation Medium without retinoic acid (RA). Resuspend the cell pellet.</li>
	<li>Use the cell suspension to determine the cell number using a cell counter according to manufacturer&#39;s instruction.</li>
</ol>
4. Aggregate Generation
<ol>
	<li>Add 5 &#181;L of RA (1 mM stock dissolved in 99.8% ethanol, stored at -20 &#176;C) to the 10 mL of Differentiation Medium and mix well (final concentration of 0.5 &#181;M RA). 
	NOTE: RA is light sensitive.&#160;Low concentration of EtOH does not affect cell differentiation19,20,21.</li>
	<li>Add 10 mL of Differentiation Medium (with RA) to the 100 mm non-treated culture dish (dedicated to suspension culture).</li>
	<li>Seed the 1 x 106 cells in the 100 mm dish (Dish surface area 56.5 cm2).</li>
	<li>Put the flask with cells into the incubator at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2 for 2 days in order to promote aggregates formation.</li>
	<li>After 2 days, exchange the Differentiation Medium. Aspirate medium containing aggregates using a 10 mL pipette and transfer to a 15 mL tube at RT.</li>
	<li>Allow the aggregates to settle by gravity for 1.5 min at RT.</li>
	<li>Discard the supernatant.</li>
	<li>Add a fresh 10 mL of Differentiation Medium with 0.5 &#181;M RA using a 10 mL serological pipette. 
	CAUTION: Do not pipette the cell aggregates up and down.</li>
	<li>Seed the aggregates into new 100 mm non-treated culture dish (dedicated to suspension culture).</li>
	<li>Place the plate in the incubator (at 37 &#176;C and 5% CO2) for 2 days.</li>
</ol>
5. Aggregates Dissociation
<ol>
	<li>Aspirate the cell aggregates using a 10 mL pipette.</li>
	<li>Transfer the aggregates to a 15 mL tube. Allow the cell aggregates to settle by gravity for 1.5 min.</li>
	<li>Remove the supernatant.</li>
	<li>Wash the aggregates with DMEM alone (serum- and antibiotic- free).</li>
	<li>Allow the cell aggregates to settle by gravity sedimentation for 1.5 min at RT.</li>
	<li>Aspirate the supernatant and add 2 mL of trypsin-EDTA (0.25%).</li>
	<li>Place the cell aggregates into a water bath (37 &#176;C) for 10 min. Agitate the aggregates gently every 2 min by tapping with a hand.</li>
	<li>Stop the trypsinization process by adding 4 mL of Maintenance Medium.</li>
	<li>Pipette aggregates up and down 20 times using 1 mL pipette.</li>
	<li>Centrifuge cells for 5 min at 200 x g and RT.</li>
	<li>Remove the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet in 5 mL of Maintenance Medium.</li>
	<li>Determine the cell number with a cell counter.</li>
</ol>
6. Plating Cells
<ol>
	<li>Add 3 mL per well of Maintenance Medium to a 6-well plate.</li>
	<li>Seed cells in the 6-well culture plate at a density of 0.5 x 106/well.</li>
	<li>Incubate at 37 &#176;C with 5% CO2 concentration.</li>
	<li>Seed the cells on cover glass in 6 well culture plate and perform immunostaining with anti-MAP2 antibody (20% confluence). Use 6-well plate to isolate RNA and perform RT-PCR for Map2, NeuN, Oct4, Nanog, and Gapdh (20% confluence).</li>
</ol>

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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Here, we describe a simple protocol for neurogenesis using the P19 cell line. Although many reports have been published in this regard, a detailed methodology for neurogenesis induction using P19 cell line remains unclear. Moreover, we utilized a simple high glucose (4,500 mg/L) DMEM medium with 10% FBS for the entire experiment. This allowed us to perform the neurogenic experiment in a user-friendly manner and expand the usage of this method for the future.
The most critical points within thi...

During embryonal development, a single cell layer is transformed into three separate germ layers1,2,3. To increase the research possibilities of phenomena occurring in vivo, generation of three-dimensional aggregates (embryonic bodies) have been developed as a convenient model. Cellular aggregates formed in this way can be exposed to various conditions causing cell differentiation, which reflect development of the embryo4,5. The P19 murine embryonic carcinoma cell line (P19 cell line) is commonly used as a cellular model for neurogenesis studies in vitro6,7,8. The P19 cell line exhibits typical pluripotent stem cell features and can differentiate into neurons in the presence of retinoic acid (RA) during cell aggregation followed by neurite outgrowth under adherent conditions. Moreover, the undifferentiated P19 cell line is also capable of forming muscle- and cardiomyocyte-like cells under the influence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)9,10,11,12.
Many methods13,14,15,16 have been reported for neuronal differentiation, but the methodology is sometimes complicated and not easy to grasp by only reading the descriptions. For example, protocols sometimes require a combination of Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) medium supplemented with a mixture of calf serum (CS) and fetal bovine serum (FBS)13. Moreover, media used for neuronal development are often composed of Neurobasal and B27 supplements13,14,15,16. As such, existing methods contain complexity in their preparation and our goal here is to simplify the protocols. In this study, we demonstrated that DMEM with FBS can be utilized for maintaining the P19 cell line (DMEM + 10% FBS) as well as for neuronal development (DMEM + 5% FBS + RA). This simplified method for neurogenesis using the P19 cell line allows us to study the molecular mechanism of how neurons are developed. Moreover, research on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer&#39;s disease is also conducted using P19 cell line17,18, and we believe that the method developed in this study will play a part in elucidating the molecular mechanisms in neurodevelopmental abnormalities and neurodegenerative diseases.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:819px;" width="818">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">6x DNA Loading Dye</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">EURx</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">E0260-01</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">Agarose</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma- Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">A9539</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">cDNA synthesis kit</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">EURx</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">E0801-02</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="43">
			<td height="43" style="height:43px;width:347px;">DAPI (4&#8242;,6-Diamidine-2&#8242;-phenylindole dihydrochloride)</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma- Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">10236276001</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Working concentration: 1 &#956;g/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="138">
			<td height="138" style="height:138px;width:347px;">DMEM high glucose (4.5 g/L) with L-glutamine</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Lonza</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">BE12-604Q</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">Ethanol 99.8%</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Chempur</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">CHEM*613964202</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">EURx</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">E5050-03</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:347px;">MAP2 antibody</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">PA517646</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Dilution 1:100</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">PCR reaction kit</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">EURx</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">E0411-03</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin 10K/10K</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Lonza</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">DE17-602E</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="45">
			<td height="45" style="height:45px;width:347px;">Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), 1x concentrated without Ca2+, Mg2+</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Lonza</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">BE17- 517Q</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:347px;">Retinoic acid</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma- Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">R2625-50MG</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">&#160;dissolved in 99.8% ethanol; store in -20 &#176;C up to 6 months</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="64">
			<td height="64" style="height:64px;width:347px;">Secondary Antibody (Alexa Fluor 488)</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">A11034</td>
			<td style="width:215px;">Dilution 1:500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">Skim milk</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma- Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">1153630500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:347px;">TBE Buffer</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">B52</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">Triton-X 100</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma- Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">T8787-100ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="49">
			<td height="49" style="height:49px;width:347px;">Trypsin 0.25% - EDTA in HBSS, without&#160; Ca2+, Mg2+,with Phenol Red</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">biosera</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">LM-T1720/500</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:347px;">Cell Culture Plastics</td>
			<td style="width:103px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">1 mL Serological Pipettes</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Profilab</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">515.01</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">10 mL Serological Pipettes</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Profilab</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">515.10</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">100 mm dish dedicated for suspension culture</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">C351029</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">15 mL centrifuge tubes</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma- Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">CLS430791-500EA</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:347px;">5 mL Serological Pipettes</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Profilab</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">515.05</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:347px;">6-well plate</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">CLS3516</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:347px;">Cell culture flasks, surface area 25 cm2</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma- Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">CLS430639-200EA</td>
			<td style="width:215px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

neurogenesis using p19 embryonal carcinoma cells

The P19 cell line derived from a mouse embryo-derived teratocarcinoma has the ability to differentiate into the three germ layers. In the presence of retinoic acid (RA), the suspension cultured P19 cell line is induced to differentiate into neurons. This phenomenon is extensively investigated as a neurogenesis model in vitro. Therefore, the P19 cell line is very useful for molecular and cellular studies associated with neurogenesis. However, protocols for neuronal differentiation of P19 cell line described in the literature are very complex. The method developed in this study are simple and will play a part in elucidating the molecular mechanisms in neurodevelopmental abnormalities and neurodegenerative diseases.

The simplified scheme of protocol for neurogenesis induction in P19 cell line is presented in Figure 1. In order to define the character of the P19 cell line in an undifferentiated state and during neurogenesis, the RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) method was used. The undifferentiated P19 cell line expressed the pluripotency genes such as organic cation/carnitine transporter4 (Oct4) and Nanog homeobox (Nanog). Neurog...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Neurogenesis Using P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Cells at JoVE.com

Neurogenesis Using P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Cells

The P19 mouse embryonic carcinoma cell line (P19 cell line) is widely used for studying the molecular mechanism of neurogenesis with great simplification compared to in vivo analysis. Here, we present a protocol for retinoic acid-induced neurogenesis in the P19 cell line.

The P19 cell line derived from a mouse embryo-derived teratocarcinoma has the ability to differentiate into the three germ layers. In the presence of ...

neurogenesis-using-p19-embryonal-carcinoma-cells

Research

JoVE Journal

Developmental Biology

10.7K Views.  Polish Academy of Sciences. The P19 mouse embryonic carcinoma cell line (P19 cell line) is widely used for studying the molecular mechanism of neurogenesis with great simplification compared to in vivo analysis. Here, we present a protocol for retinoic acid-induced neurogenesis in the P19 cell line.

Video: Neurogenesis Using P19 Embryonal Carcinoma Cells

Organotypic Slice Cultures for Studies of Postnatal Neurogenesis

Here we describe a technique for studying hippocampal postnatal neurogenesis in the rodent brain using the organotypic slice culture technique. This method maintains the characteristic topographical morphology of the hippocampus while allowing direct application of pharmacological agents to the developing hippocampal dentate gyrus. Additionally, slice cultures can be maintained for up to 4 weeks and thus, allow one to study the maturation process of newborn granule neurons. Slice cultures allow for efficient pharmacological manipulation of hippocampal slices while excluding complex variables such as uncertainties related to the deep anatomic location of the hippocampus as well as the blood brain barrier. For these reasons, we sought to optimize organotypic slice cultures specifically for postnatal neurogenesis research.

Here we describe a technique for studying hippocampal postnatal neurogenesis using the organotypic slice culture technique. This method allows for in vitro manipulation of adult neurogenesis and allows for the direct application of pharmacological agents to the cultured hippocampus.

Here we describe a technique for studying hippocampal postnatal neurogenesis in the rodent brain using the organotypic slice culture technique. This ...

Alginate Encapsulation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Co-axial Nozzle

Pluripotent stem cells (PS cells) are the focus of intense research due to their role in regenerative medicine and drug screening. However, the development of a mass culture system would be required for using PS cells in these applications. Suspension culture is one promising culture method for the mass production of PS cells, although some issues such as controlling aggregation and limiting shear stress from the culture medium are still unsolved. In order to solve these problems, we developed a method of calcium alginate (Alg-Ca) encapsulation using a co-axial nozzle. This method can control the size of the capsules easily by co-flowing N2 gas. The controllable capsule diameter must be larger than 500 &#181;m because too high a flow rate of N2 gas causes the breakdown of droplets and thus heterogeneous-sized capsules. Moreover, a low concentration of Alg-Na and CaCl2 causes non-spherical capsules. Although an Alg-Ca capsule without a coating of Alg-PLL easily dissolves enabling the collection of cells, they can also potentially leak out from capsules lacking an Alg-PLL coating. Indeed, an alginate-PLL coating can prevent cellular leakage but is also hard to break. This technology can be used to research the stem cell niche as well as the mass production of PS cells because encapsulation can modify the micro-environment surrounding cells including the extracellular matrix and the concentration of secreted factors.

We established a method of encapsulating pluripotent stem cells (PS cells) into alginate hydrogel capsules using a co-axial nozzle. This prevents cells from aggregating excessively and limits the shear stress experienced by cells in suspension culture. The technique is applicable to the mass production of PS cells as well as research on stem cell niche.

Pluripotent stem cells (PS cells) are the focus of intense research due to their role in regenerative medicine and drug screening.  However, the ...

The Production of Pluripotent Stem Cells from Mouse Amniotic Fluid Cells Using a Transposon System

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated from mouse and human somatic cells by forced expression of defined transcription factors using different methods. Here, we produced iPS cells from mouse amniotic fluid cells, using a non-viral-based transposon system. All obtained iPS cell lines exhibited characteristics of pluripotent cells, including the ability to differentiate toward derivatives of all three germ layers in vitro and in vivo. This strategy opens up the possibility of using cells from diseased fetuses to develop new therapies for birth defects.

In this study, we generate induced pluripotent stem cells from mouse amniotic fluid cells, using a non-viral-based transposon system.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are generated from mouse and human somatic cells by forced expression of defined transcription factors using ...

Generation of Integration-free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Using Episomal Vectors

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for disease modeling and regenerative therapies. We previously reported the use of Episomal Vectors (EV) to generate integration-free iPSCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB MNCs). The episomal vectors used are DNA plasmids incorporated with oriP and EBNA1 elements from the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus, which&#160;allow for replication and long-term retainment of plasmids in mammalian cells, respectively. With further optimization, thousands of iPSC colonies can be obtained from 1 mL of peripheral blood. Two critical factors for achieving high reprogramming efficiencies&#160;are: 1) the use of a 2A &#34;self-cleavage&#34; peptide to link OCT4 and SOX2, thus achieving equimolar expression of the two factors; 2) the use of two vectors to express MYC and KLF4 individually. Here we describe a step-by-step protocol for generating integration-free iPSCs from adult peripheral blood samples. The generated iPSCs are integration-free as residual episomal plasmids are undetectable after five passages. Although the reprogramming efficiency is comparable to that of Sendai Virus (SV) vectors, EV plasmids are considerably more economical than the commercially available SV vectors. This affordable EV reprogramming system holds potential for clinical applications in regenerative medicine and provides an approach for the direct reprogramming of PB MNCs to integration-free mesenchymal stem cells, neural stem cells, etc.

This protocol describes a detailed method for efficient generation of integration-free iPSCs from human adult peripheral blood cells. With the use of four oriP/EBNA-based episomal vectors to express the reprogramming factors, KLF4, MYC, BCL-XL, or OCT4 and SOX2, thousands of iPSC colonies can be obtained from 1 mL of peripheral blood.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for disease modeling and regenerative therapies. We previously reported the use of Episomal ...

Horizontal Whole Mount: A Novel Processing and Imaging Protocol for Thick, Three-dimensional Tissue Cross-sections of Skin

Processing a tissue of interest to generate a microscopic image that supports a scientific argument can be challenging. The acquisition of high-quality microscopic images is not entirely dependent upon the quality of the microscope, but also upon the methods of tissue processing, which often involve multiple critical actions or steps. Furthermore, mesenchymal cell types in the skin and other tissues represent a new challenge for tissue preparation and imaging. Here, we present a complete process, from tissue harvest to microscopy. Our technique, called &#34;horizontal whole mount,&#34; is one that novices can quickly become proficient in and that allows for antigen preservation and detection in 60-300 &#181;m-thick sections cut with a cryostat. Sections of this thickness provide enhanced visualization of tissue microarchitecture in a three-dimensional environment. In addition, the protocol preserves mesenchymal cells in a manner that enhances image quality when compared to standard cryostat or paraffin sections, thereby increasing the efficacy and reliability of immunostaining. We believe that this protocol will benefit all laboratories that visualize skin, and possibly other tissues and organs.

This work presents a novel processing and imaging protocol for thick, three-dimensional tissue cross-section analysis that enables the full exploitation of confocal imaging modalities. This protocol preserves antigenicity and represents a robust system to analyze skin histology and potentially other tissue types.

Processing a tissue of interest to generate a microscopic image that supports a scientific argument can be challenging. The acquisition of high-quality ...

Single-cell Photoconversion in Living Intact Zebrafish

Animal and plant tissue is composed of distinct populations of cells. These cells interact over time to build and maintain the tissue and can cause disease when disrupted. Scientists have developed clever techniques to investigate characteristics and natural dynamics of these cells within intact tissue by expressing fluorescent proteins in subsets of cells. However, at times, experiments require more selected visualization of cells within the tissue, sometimes at the single-cell or population-of-cells manner. To achieve this and visualize single cells within a population of cells, scientists have utilized single-cell photoconversion of fluorescent proteins. To demonstrate this technique, we show here how to direct UV light to an Eos-expressing cell of interest in an intact, living zebrafish. We then image those photoconverted Eos+ cells 24 h later to determine how they changed in the tissue. We describe two techniques: single cell photoconversion and photoconversions of populations of cell. These techniques can be used to visualize cell-cell interactions, cell-fate and differentiation, and cell migrations, making it a technique that is applicable in numerous biological questions.

Here, we present a protocol to show how cell photoconversion is achieved through UV exposure to specific areas expressing the fluorescent protein, Eos, in living animals.

Animal and plant tissue is composed of distinct populations of cells. These cells interact over time to build and maintain the tissue and can cause ...

Identification of Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells by Immunofluorescence with Pax7 and Laminin Antibodies

Immunofluorescence is an effective method that helps to identify different cell types on tissue sections. In order to study the desired cell population, antibodies for specific cell markers are applied on tissue sections. In adult skeletal muscle, satellite cells (SCs) are stem cells that contribute to muscle repair and regeneration. Therefore, it is important to visualize and trace the satellite cell population under different physiological conditions. In resting skeletal muscle, SCs reside between the basal lamina and myofiber plasma membrane. A commonly used marker for identifying SCs on the myofibers or in cell culture is the paired box protein Pax7. In this article, an optimized Pax7 immunofluorescence protocol on skeletal muscle sections is presented that minimizes non-specific staining and background. Another antibody that recognizes a protein (laminin) of the basal lamina was also added to help identify SCs. Similar protocols can also be used to perform double or triple labeling with Pax7 and antibodies for additional proteins of interest.

The precise identification of satellite cells is essential for studying their functions under various physiological and pathological conditions. This article presents a protocol to identify satellite cells on adult skeletal muscle sections by immunofluorescence-based staining.

Immunofluorescence is an effective method that helps to identify different cell types on tissue sections. In order to study the desired cell population, ...

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) germline is used to study several biologically important processes including stem cell development, apoptosis, and chromosome dynamics. While the germline is an excellent model, the analysis is often two dimensional due to the time and labor required for three-dimensional analysis. Major readouts in such studies are the number/position of nuclei and protein distribution within the germline. Here, we present a method to perform automated analysis of the germline using confocal microscopy and computational approaches to determine the number and position of nuclei in each region of the germline. Our method also analyzes germline protein distribution that enables the three-dimensional examination of protein expression in different genetic backgrounds. Further, our study shows variations in cytoskeletal architecture in distinct regions of the germline that may accommodate specific spatial developmental requirements. Finally, our method enables automated counting of the sperm in the spermatheca of each germline. Taken together, our method enables rapid and reproducible phenotypic analysis of the C. elegans germline.

Computational Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline to Study the Distribution of Nuclei, Proteins, and the Cytoskeleton

We present an automated method for three-dimensional reconstruction of the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. Our method determines the number and position of each nucleus within the germline and analyses germline protein distribution and cytoskeletal structure.

The Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) germline is used to study several biologically important processes including stem cell development, apoptosis, and ...

In Vitro Generation of Somite Derivatives from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

In response to signals such as WNTs, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and sonic hedgehog (SHH) secreted from surrounding tissues, somites (SMs) give rise to multiple cell types, including the myotome (MYO), sclerotome (SCL), dermatome (D), and syndetome (SYN), which in turn develop into skeletal muscle, axial skeleton, dorsal dermis, and axial tendon/ligament, respectively. Therefore, the generation of SMs and their derivatives from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is critical to obtain pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) for application in regenerative medicine and for disease research in the field of orthopedic surgery. Although the induction protocols for MYO and SCL from PSCs have been previously reported by several researchers, no study has yet demonstrated the induction of SYN and D from iPSCs. Therefore, efficient induction of fully competent SMs remains a major challenge. Here, we recapitulate human SM patterning with human iPSCs in vitro by mimicking the signaling environment during chick/mouse SM development, and report on methods of systematic induction of SM derivatives (MYO, SCL, D, and SYN) from human iPSCs under chemically defined conditions through the presomitic mesoderm (PSM) and SM states. Knowledge regarding chick/mouse&#160;SM development was successfully applied to the induction of SMs with human iPSCs. This method could be a novel tool for studying human somitogenesis and patterning without the use of embryos and for cell-based therapy and disease modeling.

We present here a protocol for the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into each somite derivative (myotome, sclerotome, dermatome, and syndetome) in chemically defined conditions, which has applications in future disease modeling and cell-based therapies in orthopedic surgery.

In response to signals such as WNTs, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and sonic hedgehog (SHH) secreted from surrounding tissues, somites (SMs) give ...

Assessment of Oxidative Damage in the Primary Mouse Ocular Surface Cells/Stem Cells in Response to Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Damage

The ocular surface is subjected to regular wear and tear due to various environmental factors. Exposure to UV-C radiation constitutes an occupational health hazard. Here, we demonstrate the exposure of primary stem cells from the mouse ocular surface to UV-C radiation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation is the readout of the extent of oxidative stress/damage. In an experimental in vitro setting, it is also essential to assess the percentage of dead cells generated due to oxidative stress. In this article, we will demonstrate the 2&#39;,7&#39;-Dichlorofluoresceindiacetate (DCFDA) staining of UV-C exposed mouse primary ocular surface stem cells and their quantification based on the fluorescent images of DCFDA staining. DCFDA staining directly corresponds to ROS generation. We also demonstrate the quantification of dead and live cells by simultaneous staining with propidium iodide (PI) and Hoechst 3332 respectively and the percentage of DCFDA (ROS positive) and PI positive cells.

Assessment of Oxidative Damage in the Primary Mouse Ocular Surface Cells/Stem Cells in Response to Ultraviolet-C UV-C Damage

This protocol demonstrates the simultaneous detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), live cells, and dead cells in live primary cultures from mouse ocular surface cells. 2&#39;,7&#39;-Dichlorofluoresceindiacetate, propidium iodide, and Hoechst staining are used to assess the ROS, dead cells, and live cells, respectively, followed by imaging and analysis.

The ocular surface is subjected to regular wear and tear due to various environmental factors. Exposure to UV-C radiation constitutes an occupational ...