Name: implantation and monitoring by pet/ct of an orthotopic model of human pleural mesothelioma in athymic mice
Uploaded: 2019-12-21T10:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice at JoVE.com

This research was funded by Ligue Genevoise contre le Cancer (to V.S.-B.) and by the Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM) of the Universities and Hospitals of Geneva and Lausanne (to D.J.C., O.B. and S.G.).

All the procedures described below were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee and by the veterinarian state office of Geneva, Switzerland (Authorization GE/106/16). The MPM cell line H2052/484 was established and characterized in our laboratory as detailed in the article of Colin DJ and et al.23. Briefly, H2052/484 cell line was established from a thoracic tumor obtained after an intrapleural injection of NCI-H2052 (ATCC) cells into immunodeficient Nude mice.
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This paper describes an original orthotopic model of MPM H2052/484 cells injected in the pleural cavity of athymic mice and a method of monitoring by small animal PET/CT imaging. This model can be implemented with moderate animal handling and surgery skills and displays a very good development rate. It allows a large experimental window of about 10 weeks in untreated mice and non-invasive longitudinal detection of tumors as early as 2 weeks after injection.
Orthotopic models rely on the implan...

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer most often associated with the exposure to asbestos fibers1,2,3. Although asbestos has been banned in most Western countries4,5,6, the incidence of MPM is still increasing7,8. Recently, exposure of mice to carbon nanotubes suggests that they may result in significant health risk in humans9,10. The data suggest that exposure to these products may induce chronic inflammation and molecular changes (e.g., loss of tumor-suppressor pathways) that underlie progression to malignant mesothelioma. Currently, multiwall carbon nanotubes are one of the most important products of nanotechnology and are increasingly incorporated in various products such as composites, energy storage materials, medicine, electronics, and environmental remediation materials.
MPM is a cancer with poor prognosis, and most patients die within two years after diagnosis due to a limited efficacy of current treatment modalities11. The choice of the treatment for MPM depends on the cancer stage. For most early-stage MPM (stage 1 and possibly some stage 2 or 3 tumors), the clinical approach is a multimodal therapy including the surgical resection of the tumors, associated to radiotherapy and chemotherapy12. A combined chemotherapy with cisplatin and pemetrexed is indicated for the treatment of most patients diagnosed with advanced locally invasive disease, that is not amenable to surgical resection, or who are otherwise not candidates for curative surgery13,14. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop more effective treatments for MPM patients. However, there are few validated in vivo animal models that reflect the clinical relevancy of MPM. Several murine MPM models have been developed but most of them do not faithfully recapitulate the complex aspects of the MPM tumor microenvironment15,16,17,18. The use of asbestos-induced MPM in mice, genetically engineered MPM mouse models, or models of syngeneic transplantation of murine MPM cell lines are limited by fundamental phenotypic and functional differences and, consequently, poorly translate new discoveries to the clinic. Other preclinical murine MPM models mostly rely on subcutaneous or peritoneal xenografts of human cell lines in immunodeficient mice. While these models are easy to monitor and provide fundamental data, the microenvironment of these xenografts is not that comparable to human tumors impairing the translational power of most of these preclinical studies17,19. Conversely, orthotopic xenografts better reflect the patient tumor behavior and response to treatment as they are surrounded with a similar microenvironment as the one found in the original tumor site16.
Molecular imaging by [18F]FDG-PET/CT is the method of choice to longitudinally monitor disease progression in patients with MPM20,21. Therefore, resorting to this non-invasive imaging method greatly promotes the translation of preclinical studies to clinical trials16,22. Moreover, it helps to reduce the required number of animals as each animal represents its own control over time.
In this article, we present a reliable orthotopic xenograft MPM model obtained after injection of the human MPM cell line H2052/484 into the pleural cavity of athymic mice. Coupled with [18F]FDG-PET/CT imaging, this model is a valuable and reproducible method to study functional and mechanistic effects of new diagnostic strategies and treatments for human MPM.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>3-mice bed</td>
			<td>Minerve</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>bed for mice imaging</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Athymic Nude-Foxn1n nu/nu</td>
			<td>Envigo, Huntingdon, UK</td>
			<td>6907F</td>
			<td>immunodeficient mouse</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Betadine</td>
			<td>Mundipharma Medical Company, CH</td>
			<td>111131</td>
			<td>polyvidone iodine solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dulbecco&#39;s Phosphate-Buffered Saline (DPBS)</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA</td>
			<td>14190094</td>
			<td>Buffer for cell culture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal bovine serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>PAA Laboratories, Pasching, Austria</td>
			<td>A15-101</td>
			<td>cell culture medium supplement</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin syringes</td>
			<td>BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA</td>
			<td>324826</td>
			<td>syringe for cell injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA</td>
			<td>15140122</td>
			<td>antibiotics for cell culture medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA</td>
			<td>61870010</td>
			<td>basal cell culture medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Temgesic (Buprenorphin 0.3 mg/mL)</td>
			<td>Alloga SA, CH</td>
			<td>700320</td>
			<td>opioid analgesic product</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triumph PET/SPECT/CT</td>
			<td>Trifoil, Chatsworth, CA, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>imaging equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA</td>
			<td>25050014</td>
			<td>enzymatic cell dissociation buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Virkon S 2%</td>
			<td>Milian, Vernier, CH</td>
			<td>972472</td>
			<td>disinfectant</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vivoquant</td>
			<td>Invicro, Boston, MA, USA</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

implantation and monitoring by pet/ct of an orthotopic model of human pleural mesothelioma in athymic mice

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumor arising in the mesothelium that covers the lungs, the heart, and the thoracic cavity. MPM development is mainly associated with asbestos. Treatments provide only modest survival since the median survival average is 9&#8211;18 months from the time of diagnosis. Therefore, more effective treatments must be identified. Most data describing new therapeutic targets were obtained from in vitro experiments and need to be validated in reliable in vivo preclinical models. This article describes one such reliable MPM orthotopic model obtained after injection of a human MPM cell line H2052/484 into the pleural cavity of immunodeficient athymic mice. Transplantation in the orthotopic site allows studying the progression of tumor in the natural in vivo environment. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) molecular imaging using the clinical [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) radiotracer is the diagnosis method of choice for examining patients with MPM. Accordingly, [18F]FDG-PET/CT was used to longitudinally monitor the disease progression of the H2052/484 orthotopic model. This technique has a high 3R potential (Reduce the number of animals, Refine to lessen pain and discomfort, and Replace animal experimentation with alternatives) since the tumor development can be monitored non-invasively and the number of animals required could be significantly reduced.
This model displays a high development rate, a rapid tumor growth, is cost-efficient and allows for rapid clinical translation. By using this orthotopic xenograft MPM model, researchers can assess biological responses of a reliable MPM model following therapeutic interventions.

The H2052/484 orthotopic model 
Orthotopic MPM models by intra-thoracic injection of cultured cancer cells, especially H2052/484 cells are relatively easy to setup. The different steps described above only require modest cell culture knowledge and the surgery steps are accessible to moderately trained animal experimenters. Nude mice and cells should be manipulated under sterile conditions to maximize the outcome of the implantations. By carefully following this protocol, which involves short anesthe...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice at JoVE.com

Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice

This article describes the generation of an orthotopic mouse model of human pleural mesothelioma by implantation of H2052/484 mesothelioma cells into the pleural cavity of immunocompromised athymic mice. The longitudinal monitoring of the development of intrapleural tumors was assessed by non-invasive multimodal [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography imaging.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumor arising in the mesothelium that covers the lungs, the heart, and the thoracic cavity. ...

This method can help to answer key questions related to the development, treatment and diagnosis of human pleural mesothelioma. The main advantage of this reliable pre-clinical orthotopic model is that it replicates the human disease progression and pathology in a microenvironment close to the one found in patients with pleural mesothelioma. Therefore, this invaluable model is of high significance and the use of non-invasive molecular imaging allows longitudinal monitoring in line with the three R concept.Prior to starting prepare the anesthesia system and surgical area in a laminar flow hood by spraying all surfaces with disinfectant. Place the micro-isolated SPF cages in the disinfected flow hood. Place a heating pad, povidone-iodine solution 30 gauge Hamilton syringe, gauze and cotton swabs surgery instruments and micropipettes and tips in the laminar flow hood.Once the mouse is properly anesthetized subcutaneously inject 0.05 milligrams per kilogram Buprinorphine for post-operative pan relief. Then place the mouse on its right side on top of the heating pad and clean the surgical area with povidone-iodine solution and make a 5 millimeter incision of the skin. Clear the surrounding fat and muscles with blunt scissors to expose the ribs.Homogenize the cell suspension and load 50 microliters into the Hamilton syringe making sure to avoid air bubbles. Wipe the needle with 70%alcohol prior to each injection. Slowly inject the cells into the pleural cavity between the sixth and seventh ribs holding the needle at an angle of 30 degrees and two to three millimeters under the intercostal muscles.Keep the needle just under the ribs to avoid injecting into the lungs. It should be visible through the muscles. When finished, close the wound with three to four absorbable sutures and store the mouse in a warmed environment until it wakes up.When performing implantation it is very important to correctly position the needle to limit the depth of the needle penetration. Use a heating chamber heating pad, or infrared lamp to prewarm the mice at 30 degrees celsius for 30 minutes prior to the injection of fluor-18(FDG)Using a dose calculator prepare three to four megabecquerel doses of fluor-18(FDG)in 150 to 200 microliters of saline in 1 milliliter insulin syringes. Make sure to record all times of radioactivity dose measurements injections, and PET scans in order to calculate standard uptake values or SUVs.Weigh the mice then intravenously inject the fluor-18(FDG)After the injection leave the mice awake in warm conditions for 45 minutes. Then load the mice on the scanner bed transfer the bed to a scanner and subject the animals to a CT scan centered on the lungs. Move the bed to the PET subsystem insert the acquisition one hour after the fluor-18(FDG)injection for a duration of 15 minutes.Then remove the mice from the imaging chamber and allow them to recover in their cage keeping them in an area dedicated to radioactive decay. Prior to image analysis reconstruct CT and PET scans as described in the manuscript. Calibrate the images by scanning a phantom cylinder and automatically co register the scans according to the built in software solution.To analyze the images load the CT data as a reference by clicking on the open data icon. Then load the PET data as input by clicking on the append data icon. Adjust the color scale so CT and PET to contrast images for visual inspection.Select the 3D ROI tool from the drop down menu click on add ROI, and name the file lungs. Click on segmentation algorithms and neighborhood thresholding then define input as background and image as ref. Enter min and max according to mouse lung density values.Inspect the 3D rendered lungs by clicking the VTK icon. Then click show table icon and retrieve the volume in the generated table. To analyze the fluor-18(FDG)in tumors convert PET images to SUV by selecting arithmetics from the drop-down menu.Select scalar multiplicity then use NP one as selected and set the becquerel per milliliter to SUV factor as scalar. Finally select 3D ROI tool from the drop-down menu and click add ROI and name the file tumors. Click on 3D paint mode and sphere uncheck 2D only and adjust the size of the shape to surround the tumors.Click on show table icon and retrieve the SUV max value from the generated table. The 3D renderings from the CT scans give an overview of MPM tumor localization and allow for calculation of lung volumes. Lung volume measurements decrease significantly over time after the injection of intrapleural tumors.The PET scan provides valuable information about the metabolic status of MPM tumors. The tumors were distinguishable two weeks after grafting and fluor-18(FDG)uptake was quantified by extracting SUVs which were positively correlated with the number of days post injection. Furthermore, lung volumes and fluor-18(FDG)avidity correlate with each other with an R squared of 0.6 which supports the strength of these measurements for monitoring MPM orthotopic tumor development.Following this procedure other methods such as histology, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry can be performed in order to respond to orthobiological questions such as the proliferation state and phenotypic characteristic of tumors and of the microenvironment. To conclude, these pre-clinical techniques pave the way for researchers to explore new diagnostic and treatment strategy of pleural mesothelioma. Furthermore, the use of molecular imaging warrants rapid translation of new findings to the clinic.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

An Orthotopic Model of Serous Ovarian Cancer in Immunocompetent Mice for in vivo Tumor Imaging and Monitoring of Tumor Immune Responses

Background: Ovarian cancer is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage where the case/fatality ratio is high and thus remains the most lethal of all gynecologic malignancies among US women 1,2,3. Serous tumors are the most widespread forms of ovarian cancer and 4,5 the Tg-MISIIR-TAg transgenic represents the only mouse model that spontaneously develops this type of tumors. Tg-MISIIR-TAg mice express SV40 transforming region under control of the Mullerian Inhibitory Substance type II Receptor (MISIIR) gene promoter 6. Additional transgenic lines have been identified that express the SV40 TAg transgene, but do not develop ovarian tumors. Non-tumor prone mice exhibit typical lifespan for C57Bl/6 mice and are fertile. These mice can be used as syngeneic allograft recipients for tumor cells isolated from Tg-MISIIR-TAg-DR26 mice.
Objective: Although tumor imaging is possible 7, early detection of deep tumors is challenging in small living animals. To enable preclinical studies in an immunologically intact animal model for serous ovarian cancer, we describe a syngeneic mouse model for this type of ovarian cancer that permits in vivo imaging, studies of the tumor microenvironment and tumor immune responses.
Methods: We first derived a TAg+ mouse cancer cell line (MOV1) from a spontaneous ovarian tumor harvested in a 26 week-old DR26 Tg-MISIIR-TAg female. Then, we stably transduced MOV1 cells with TurboFP635 Lentivirus mammalian vector that encodes Katushka, a far-red mutant of the red fluorescent protein from sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor with excitation/emission maxima at 588/635 nm 8,9,10. We orthotopically implanted MOV1Kat in the ovary 11,12,13,14 of non-tumor prone Tg-MISIIR-TAg female mice. Tumor progression was followed by in vivo optical imaging and tumor microenvironment was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
Results: Orthotopically implanted MOV1Kat cells developed serous ovarian tumors. MOV1Kat tumors could be visualized by in vivo imaging up to three weeks after implantation (fig. 1) and were infiltrated with leukocytes, as observed in human ovarian cancers 15 (fig. 2).
Conclusions: We describe an orthotopic model of ovarian cancer suitable for in vivo imaging of early tumors due to the high pH-stability and photostability of Katushka in deep tissues. We propose the use of this novel syngeneic model of serous ovarian cancer for in vivo imaging studies and monitoring of tumor immune responses and immunotherapies.

An Orthotopic Model of Serous Ovarian Cancer in Immunocompetent Mice for in vivo Tumor Imaging and Monitoring of Tumor Immune Responses

To study in vivo tumor growth and tumor microenvironment, we used a syngeneic and orthotopic mouse model of ovarian cancer in immunocompetent animals. We transduced a mouse tumor cell line (MOV1) with Katushka fluorescent protein (MOV1KAT) and here we show its orthotopic implantation in ovary and in vivo imaging.

Background: Ovarian cancer is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage where the case/fatality ratio is high and thus remains the most lethal of all ...

Comprehensive &amp; Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model

We present the video about assisting anti-retroviral therapy (ART) by an apt laboratory service - representing a South-African role model for economical large scale diagnostic testing. In the low-income countries inexpensive ART has transformed the prospects for the survival of HIV seropositive patients but there are doubts whether there is a need for the laboratory monitoring of ART and at what costs - in situations when the overall quality of pathology services can still be very low. The appropriate answer is to establish economically sound services with better coordination and stricter internal quality assessment than seen in western countries. This video, photographed at location in the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS-SA) at the Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, South Africa, provides such a coordinated scheme expanding the original 2-color CD4-CD45 PanLeucoGating strategy (PLG). Thus the six modules of the video presentation reveal the simplicity of a 4-color flow cytometric assay to combine haematological, immunological and virology-related tests in a single tube. These video modules are: (i) the set-up of instruments; (ii) sample preparations; (iii) testing absolute counts and monitoring quality for each sample by bead-count-rate; (iv) the heamatological CD45 test for white cell counts and differentials; (v) the CD4 counts, and (vi) the activation of CD8+ T cells measured by CD38 display, a viral load related parameter. The potential cost-savings are remarkable. This arrangement is a prime example for the feasibility of performing &gt; 800-1000 tests per day with a stricter quality control than that applied in western laboratories, and also with a transfer of technology to other laboratories within a NHLS-SA network. Expert advisors, laboratory managers and policy makers who carry the duty of making decisions about introducing modern medical technology are frequently not in a position to see the latest technical details as carried out in the large regional laboratories with huge burdens of workload. Hence this video shows details of these new developments.

Anti-retroviral therapy to treat HIV/AIDS is monitored in South Africa on a large scale. Flow cytometry is combined for haematology (CD45), immunology (CD4) and viral-load linked CD38 assay. Recorded at NHLS-SA laboratories, Johannesburg, these modern methods are cost-efficient with heightened local internal quality control, serving as role-models for resource-limited diagnostics.

We present the video about assisting anti-retroviral therapy (ART) by an apt laboratory service - representing a South-African role model for economical ...

Induction of Graft-versus-host Disease and In Vivo T Cell Monitoring Using an MHC-matched Murine Model

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the limiting barrier to the broad use of bone marrow transplant as a curative therapy for a variety of hematological deficiencies. GVHD is caused by mature alloreactive T cells present in the bone marrow graft that are infused into the recipient and cause damage to host organs. However, in mice, T cells must be added to the bone marrow inoculum to cause GVHD. Although extensive work has been done to characterize T cell responses post transplant, bioluminescent imaging technology is a non-invasive method to monitor T cell trafficking patterns in vivo. 
Following lethal irradiation, recipient mice are transplanted with bone marrow cells and splenocytes from donor mice. T cell subsets from L2G85.B6 (transgenic mice that constitutively express luciferase) are included in the transplant. By only transplanting certain T cell subsets, one is able to track specific T cell subsets in vivo, and based on their location, develop hypotheses regarding the role of specific T cell subsets in promoting GVHD at various time points. At predetermined intervals post transplant, recipient mice are imaged using a Xenogen IVIS CCD camera. Light intensity can be quantified using Living Image software to generate a pseudo-color image based on photon intensity (red = high intensity, violet = low intensity). 
Between 4-7 days post transplant, recipient mice begin to show clinical signs of GVHD. Cooke et al.1 developed a scoring system to quantitate disease progression based on the recipient mice fur texture, skin integrity, activity, weight loss, and posture. Mice are scored daily, and euthanized when they become moribund. Recipient mice generally become moribund 20-30 days post transplant. 
Murine models are valuable tools for studying the immunology of GVHD. Selectively transplanting particular T cell subsets allows for careful identification of the roles each subset plays. Non-invasively tracking T cell responses in vivo adds another layer of value to murine GVHD models.

Induction of Graft-versus-host Disease and In Vivo T Cell Monitoring Using an MHC-matched Murine Model

Murine bone marrow transplantation is a widely used technique to study immunological mechanisms governing graft-versus-host disease in humans. The ability to monitor T cell trafficking patterns in vivo allows for detailed analysis of the development and perpetuation of T cell responses during graft-versus-host disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the limiting barrier to the broad use of bone marrow transplant as a curative therapy for a variety of hematological ...

Recurrent Herpetic Stromal Keratitis in Mice, a Model for Studying Human HSK

Herpetic eye disease, termed herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK), is a potentially blinding infection of the cornea that results in over 300,000 clinical visits each year for treatment. Between 1 and 2 percent of those patients with clinical disease will experience loss of vision of the infected cornea. The vast majority of these cases are the result of reactivation of a latent infection by herpes simplex type I virus and not due to acute disease. Interestingly, the acute infection is the model most often used to study this disease. However, it was felt that a recurrent model of HSK would be more reflective of what occurs during clinical disease. The recurrent animal models for HSK have employed both rabbits and mice. The advantage of rabbits is that they experience reactivation from latency absent any known stimulus. That said, it is difficult to explore the role that many immunological factors play in recurrent HSK because the rabbit model does not have the immunological and genetic resources that the mouse has. We chose to use the mouse model for recurrent HSK because it has the advantage of there being many resources available and also we know when reactivation will occur because reactivation is induced by exposure to UV-B light. Thus far, this model has allowed those laboratories using it to define several immunological factors that are important to this disease. It has also allowed us to test both therapeutic and vaccine efficacy.

Most studies of herpetic corneal disease use a primary infection model. However, primary infection with HSV-1 does not typically lead to human disease. Here we describe a recurrent model of herpetic corneal disease, which more closely mimics human disease.

Herpetic eye disease, termed herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK), is a potentially blinding infection of the cornea that results in over 300,000 clinical ...

An In vitro Model to Study Heterogeneity of Human Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization

Monocyte-derived macrophages represent an important cell type of the innate immune system. Mouse models studying macrophage biology suffer from the phenotypic and functional differences between murine and human monocyte-derived macrophages. Therefore, we here describe an in vitro model to generate and study primary human macrophages. Briefly, after density gradient centrifugation of peripheral blood drawn from a forearm vein, monocytes are isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells using negative magnetic bead isolation. These monocytes are then cultured for six days under specific conditions to induce different types of macrophage differentiation or polarization. The model is easy to use and circumvents the problems caused by species-specific differences between mouse and man. Furthermore, it is closer to the in vivo conditions than the use of immortalized cell lines. In conclusion, the model described here is suitable to study macrophage biology, identify disease mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets. Even though not fully replacing experiments with animals or human tissues obtained post mortem, the model described here allows identification and validation of disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets that may be highly relevant to various human diseases.

An In vitro Model to Study Heterogeneity of Human Macrophage Differentiation and Polarization

Monocyte-derived macrophages are important cells of the innate immune system. Here, we describe an easy to use in vitro model to generate these cells. Using gradient centrifugation, negative bead isolation and specific cell culture conditions, monocyte-derived macrophages can be generated for phenotypic and functional studies.

Monocyte-derived macrophages represent an important cell type of the innate immune system. Mouse models studying macrophage biology suffer from the ...

Optimized Protocols for Mycobacterium leprae Strain Management: Frozen Stock Preservation and Maintenance in Athymic Nude Mice

Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is an important infectious disease that is still endemic in many countries around the world, including Brazil. There are currently no known methods for growing M. leprae in vitro, presenting a major obstacle in the study of this pathogen in the laboratory. Therefore, the maintenance and growth of M. leprae strains are preferably performed in athymic nude mice (NU-Foxn1nu). The laboratory conditions for using mice are readily available, easy to perform, and allow standardization and development of protocols for achieving reproducible results. In the present report, we describe a simple protocol for purification of bacilli from nude mouse footpads using trypsin, which yields a suspension with minimum cell debris and with high bacterial viability index, as determined by fluorescent microscopy. A modification to the standard method for bacillary counting by Ziehl-Neelsen staining and light microscopy is also demonstrated. Additionally, we describe a protocol for freezing and thawing bacillary stocks as an alternative protocol for maintenance and storage of M. leprae strains.

Optimized Protocols for Mycobacterium leprae Strain Management: Frozen Stock Preservation and Maintenance in Athymic Nude Mice

Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, does not grow in vitro. We describe an easy to follow protocol to prepare a bacillary suspension to ensure the maintenance of large quantities of M. leprae for a variety of applications. Protocols for propagation by mouse footpad inoculation, evaluation of viability, freezing and thawing bacillary stock are described in detail.

Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is an important infectious disease that is still endemic in many countries around the world, including Brazil. ...

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) infections present a broad spectrum of disease severity, ranging from mild infections to life-threatening bronchiolitis. An important part of the pathogenesis of severe disease is an enhanced immune response leading to immunopathology.	Here, we describe a protocol used to investigate the immune response of human immune cells to an HRSV infection. First, we describe methods used for culturing, purification and quantification of HRSV. Subsequently, we describe a human in vitro model in which peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are stimulated with live HRSV. This model system can be used to study multiple parameters that may contribute to disease severity, including the innate and adaptive immune response. These responses can be measured at the transcriptional and translational level. Moreover, viral infection of cells can easily be measured using flow cytometry. Taken together, stimulation of PBMC with live HRSV provides a fast and reproducible model system to examine mechanisms involved in HRSV-induced disease.

An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) can cause severe bronchiolitis in young infants. Part of the pathogenesis of severe HRSV disease is caused by the host immune response. Stimulation of primary human immune cells with HRSV provides a fast and reproducible model system to study activation of inflammatory pathways and infection.

Human respiratory syncytial  virus (HRSV) infections present a broad spectrum of disease severity, ranging  from mild infections to life-threatening ...

A Semi-automated Approach to Preparing Antibody Cocktails for Immunophenotypic Analysis of Human Peripheral Blood

Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood by flow cytometry determines changes in the frequency and activation status of peripheral leukocytes during disease and treatment. It has the potential to predict therapeutic efficacy and identify novel therapeutic targets. Whole blood staining utilizes unmanipulated blood, which minimizes artifacts that can occur during sample preparation. However, whole blood staining must also be done on freshly collected blood to ensure the integrity of the sample. Additionally, it is best to prepare antibody cocktails on the same day to avoid potential instability of tandem-dyes and prevent reagent interaction between brilliant violet dyes. Therefore, whole blood staining requires careful standardization to control for intra and inter-experimental variability.
Here, we report deployment of an automated liquid handler equipped with a two-dimensional (2D) barcode reader into a standard process of making antibody cocktails for flow cytometry. Antibodies were transferred into 2D barcoded tubes arranged in a 96 well format and their contents compiled in a database. The liquid handler could then locate the source antibody vials by referencing antibody names within the database. Our method eliminated tedious coordination for positioning of source antibody tubes. It provided versatility allowing the user to easily change any number of details in the antibody dispensing process such as specific antibody to use, volume, and destination by modifying the database without rewriting the scripting in the software method for each assay.
A proof of concept experiment achieved outstanding inter and intra- assay precision, demonstrated by replicate preparation of an 11-color, 17-antibody flow cytometry assay. These methodologies increased overall throughput for flow cytometry assays and facilitated daily preparation of the complex antibody cocktails required for the detailed phenotypic characterization of freshly collected anticoagulated peripheral blood.

Whole blood Immunophenotyping is indispensable for monitoring the human immune system. However, the number of reagents required and the instability of specific fluorochromes in premixed cocktails necessitates daily reagent preparation. Here we show that semi-automated preparation of staining antibody cocktail helps establish reliable immunophenotyping by minimizing variability in reagent dispensing.

Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood by flow cytometry determines changes in the frequency and activation status of peripheral leukocytes during disease ...

Murine Lymphocyte Labeling by 64Cu-Antibody Receptor Targeting for In Vivo Cell Trafficking by PET/CT

This protocol illustrates the production of 64Cu and the chelator conjugation/radiolabeling of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) followed by murine lymphocyte cell culture and 64Cu-antibody receptor targeting of the cells. In vitro evaluation of the radiolabel and non-invasive in vivo cell tracking in an animal model of an airway delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR) by PET/CT are described.
In detail, the conjugation of a mAb with the chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) is shown. Following the production of radioactive 64Cu, radiolabeling of the DOTA-conjugated mAb is described. Next, the expansion of chicken ovalbumin (cOVA)-specific CD4+ interferon (IFN)-&#947;-producing T helper cells (cOVA-TH1) and the subsequent radiolabeling of the cOVA-TH1 cells are depicted. Various in vitro techniques are presented to evaluate the effects of 64Cu-radiolabeling on the cells, such as the determination of cell viability by trypan blue exclusion, the staining for apoptosis with Annexin V for flow cytometry, and the assessment of functionality by IFN-&#947; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, the determination of the radioactive uptake into the cells and the labeling stability are described in detail. This protocol further describes how to perform cell tracking studies in an animal model for an airway DTHR and, therefore, the induction of cOVA-induced acute airway DHTR in BALB/c mice is included. Finally, a robust PET/CT workflow including image acquisition, reconstruction, and analysis is presented.
The 64Cu-antibody receptor targeting approach with subsequent receptor internalization provides high specificity and stability, reduced cellular toxicity, and low efflux rates compared to common PET-tracers for cell labeling, e.g.64Cu-pyruvaldehyde bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (64Cu-PTSM). Finally, our approach enables non-invasive in vivo cell tracking by PET/CT with an optimal signal-to-background ratio for 48 h. This experimental approach can be transferred to different animal models and cell types with membrane-bound receptors that are internalized.

Murine Lymphocyte Labeling by 64Cu-Antibody Receptor Targeting for In Vivo  Cell Trafficking by PET/CT

Following the preparation of a 64Cu-modified monoclonal antibody binding to a transgenic murine T cell receptor, T cells are radiolabeled in vivo, analyzed for viability, functionality, labeling stability and apoptosis, and adoptively transferred into mice with an airway delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction for non-invasive imaging by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

This protocol illustrates the production of 64Cu and the chelator conjugation/radiolabeling of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) followed by murine lymphocyte ...

Analysis of Lymphocyte Extravasation Using an In Vitro Model of the Human Blood-brain Barrier

Lymphocyte extravasation into the central nervous system (CNS) is critical for immune surveillance. Disease-related alterations of lymphocyte extravasation might result in pathophysiological changes in the CNS. Thus, investigation of lymphocyte migration into the CNS is important to understand inflammatory CNS diseases and to develop new therapy approaches. Here we present an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier to study lymphocyte extravasation. Human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) are confluently grown on a porous polyethylene terephthalate transwell insert to mimic the endothelium of the blood-brain barrier. Barrier function is validated by zonula occludens immunohistochemistry, transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements as well as analysis of evans blue permeation. This model allows investigation of the diapedesis of rare lymphocyte subsets such as CD56brightCD16dim/- NK cells. Furthermore, the effects of other cells, cytokines and chemokines, disease-related alterations, and distinct treatment regimens on the migratory capacity of lymphocytes can be studied. Finally, the impact of inflammatory stimuli as well as different treatment regimens on the endothelial barrier can be analyzed.

Analysis of Lymphocyte Extravasation Using an In Vitro Model of the Human Blood-brain Barrier

Here, we describe a human blood-brain barrier model enabling to investigate lymphocyte transmigration into the central nervous system in vitro.