Name: quantification of cellular densities and antigenic properties using magnetic levitation
Uploaded: 2021-05-17T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantification of Cellular Densities and Antigenic Properties using Magnetic Levitation at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Dr. Getulio Pereira for his help with extracellular vesicle work.
This work was supported by the following National Institute of Health grants to ICG: RO1CA218500, UG3HL147353, and UG3TR002881.

The experimental protocol used in this study was approved by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Institutional Review Board (IRB).
1. Instrument setup
NOTE: Imaging levitating cells requires two rare earth neodymium magnets magnetized on the z-axis to be placed with the same pole facing each other to generate a magnetic field. The distance between the magnets can be customized depending on the intensity of the magnetic field and the density of the targets. In thi...

<ol>
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Gradient centrifugation is currently the standard technique for isolating subcellular components based on their unique densities. This approach, however, requires the use of specialized gradient media as well as centrifuge equipment. The magnetic levitation approach presented here&#8239;allows detailed investigation of the morphological and functional properties of circulating cells, with minimum, if any manipulation of the cells, providing a near in vivo access to circulating cells.
...

Magnetic levitation is a technique developed to separate, analyze, and identify cell&#160;types1,2,3, proteins4,5 and opioids6 based solely on their specific density and paramagnetic properties. Cell density is a unique, intrinsic property of each cell type directly related to its metabolic rate and differentiation status7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14. Quantifying subtle and transient changes in cell density during steady state conditions, and during a variety of cell processes, could afford one an unmatched insight into cell physiology and pathophysiology. Changes in cell density are associated with cell differentiation15,16, cell cycle progression9,17,18,19, apoptosis20,21,22,23, and malignant transformation24,25,26. Therefore, quantification of specific changes in cell density, can be used to differentiate between cells of different types, as well as discriminate between same type of cells undergoing various activation processes. This enables experiments that target a particular cell sub-population, where dynamic changes in density serves as an indicator of altered cell metabolism27. As it has been established that a cell may alter its density in response to a changing environment7, it is imperative to measure the kinetics of the cell in relation to its density to understand it fully, which current methods may not provide12. Magnetic levitation on the other hand, allows for a dynamic evaluation of cells and their properties28.
Cells are diamagnetic meaning that they do not have a permanent magnetic dipole moment. However, when exposed to&#160;an external magnetic field, a weak magnetic dipole moment is generated in the cells, in the opposite direction of the applied field. Thus, if cells are suspended in a paramagnetic solution and exposed to a strong vertical magnetic field, they will levitate away from the magnetic source and stop to a height, which depends primarily on their individual density. Diamagnetic levitation of an object confined to the minimum of an inhomogeneous magnetic field is possible when the two following criteria are fulfilled: 1) the magnetic susceptibility of the particle must be smaller than that of the surrounding medium, and 2) the magnetic force must be strong enough to counterbalance the particle&#39;s buoyancy force. Both criteria can be fulfilled by suspending RBCs in a magnetic buffer and by creating strong magnetic field gradients with small, inexpensive, commercially available permanent magnets1. The equilibrium position of a magnetically trapped particle on an axis along the direction of gravity is determined by its density (relative to the density of the buffer), its magnetic susceptibility (relative to the magnetic susceptibility of the buffer), and the signature of the applied magnetic field. As the density and the magnetic properties of the solution are constant throughout the system, the intrinsic density properties of the cells will be the major factor determining the levitation height of the cells, with denser cells levitating lower compared to less dense cells. This approach uses a set of two density reference beads (1.05 and 1.2 g/mL) that allows us to use precise, ratiometric analysis for density measurements. Altering the concentration of the magnetic solution allows one to isolate different cellular populations, such as RBCs from WBCs, as the density of circulating cells is cell specific, removing the need for isolation protocols or other cell manipulation.
The majority of detection methods used in biology research rely on extrapolation of specific binding events into easy to quantify linear signals. These readout methods are often complex and involve specialized equipment and dedicated scientific personnel. An approach aimed at the detection of antigens found either on the plasma membrane of cells or extracellular vesicles or that are soluble in plasma, using either one or two antibody coated beads, is herein described. The beads must be of different densities from each other and from those of the interrogated targets. The presence of the target antigen in any given biofluid is translated into a specific, measurable change in the levitation height of an antigen-positive cell that is bound to a detection bead. In the case of soluble antigens or extracellular vesicles, they are bound to both capture and detection beads, forming a bead-bead complex rather than bead-cell complex. The change in levitation height depends on the new density of the bead-cell or bead-bead complexes. In addition to the change in the levitation height of the complexes, which indicates the presence of antigen in the biofluid, the number of complexes is also dependent on the amount of target, making magnetic levitation also a quantitative approach for antigen detection24.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>2-(N-Morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid hydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>M-2933</td>
			<td>(MES); component of activation buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50x2.5x1 mm magnets, Nickel (Ni-Cu-Ni) plated, grade N52, magnetized through 5mm (0.197&#34;) thickness</td>
			<td>K&#38;J Magnetics</td>
			<td>Custom</td>
			<td>Magnets used for the magnetic levitation device</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Capillary Tube Sealant (Critoseal)</td>
			<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
			<td>267620</td>
			<td>Used to cap the ends of the capillary tubes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge tube filters (Corning Costar Spin-X)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>CLS8163</td>
			<td>Used to wash beads</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Compact Lab Jack</td>
			<td>Thorlabs</td>
			<td>LJ750</td>
			<td>Used for adjusting the magnetic levitation device</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DPBS, no calcium, no magnesium</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14190-144</td>
			<td>Solution for bead suspensions</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanolamine</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>E9508-100ML</td>
			<td>Used during a wash step for beads</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent Plasma Membrane Stain (CellMask Green)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>C37608</td>
			<td>Used to stain Rh+ cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gadoteridol Injection</td>
			<td>ProHance</td>
			<td>NDC 0270-1111-03</td>
			<td>Gadolinium (Gd3+); magnetic solution used to suspend cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HBSS++</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14025-092</td>
			<td>Solution for sample preparation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human C5b,6 complex</td>
			<td>Complement Technology, Inc</td>
			<td>A122</td>
			<td>Used to generate RBC Evs</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human C7 protein</td>
			<td>Complement Technology, Inc</td>
			<td>A124</td>
			<td>Used to generate RBC Evs</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human C8 protein</td>
			<td>Complement Technology, Inc</td>
			<td>A125</td>
			<td>Used to generate RBC Evs</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Human C9 protein</td>
			<td>Complement Technology, Inc</td>
			<td>A126</td>
			<td>Used to generate RBC Evs</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mini Series Post Collar</td>
			<td>Thorlabs</td>
			<td>MSR2</td>
			<td>Used to secure magnetic levitation device to lab jacks</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N&#8242;-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>E1769-10G</td>
			<td>(EDC); used in antibody coupling reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Normal Rabbit IgG Control</td>
			<td>R&#38;D Systems</td>
			<td>AB-105-C</td>
			<td>Used to coat beads as a control condition</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate Buffered Saline (10X Solution, pH 7.4)</td>
			<td>Boston Bioproducts</td>
			<td>BM-220</td>
			<td>Component of coupling buffer, used for washing steps</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polysorbate 20 (Tween 20)</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>P7949-500ML</td>
			<td>Component of activation buffer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Polystyrene Carboxyl Polymer</td>
			<td>Bangs Laboratories</td>
			<td>PC06004</td>
			<td>Top density beads (1.05 g/mL), used for antibody coupling</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit RhD Polyclonal Antibody</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>PA5-112694</td>
			<td>Used to coat beads for the dectection of Rh factor in red blood cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Research Grade Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>Provis AX-70</td>
			<td>Microscoped used to mount magnetic levitation device and view levitating cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rubber Dampening Feet</td>
			<td>Thorlabs</td>
			<td>RDF1</td>
			<td>Used to support the breadboard table</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Square Boro Tubing</td>
			<td>VitroTubes</td>
			<td>8100-050</td>
			<td>Capillary tube used for loading sample into Maglev</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sulfo-NHS</td>
			<td>Thermoscientific</td>
			<td>24510</td>
			<td>Used in antibody coupling reaction</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Translational Stage</td>
			<td>Thorlabs</td>
			<td>PT1</td>
			<td>Used for focusing and for scanning capillary tube</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

quantification of cellular densities and antigenic properties using magnetic levitation

The described method was developed based on the principles of magnetic levitation, which separates cells and particles based on their density and magnetic properties. Density is a cell type identifying property, directly related to its metabolic rate, differentiation, and activation status. Magnetic levitation allows a one-step approach to successfully separate, image and characterize circulating blood cells, and to detect anemia, sickle cell disease, and circulating tumor cells based on density and magnetic properties. This approach is also amenable to detecting soluble antigens present in a solution by using sets of low- and high-density beads coated with capture and detection antibodies, respectively. If the antigen is present in solution, it will bridge the two sets&#160;of beads, generating a new bead-bead complex, which will levitate in between the rows of antibody-coated beads. Increased concentration of the target antigen in solution will generate a larger number of bead-bead complexes when compared to lower concentrations of antigen, thus allowing for quantitative measurements of the target antigen. Magnetic levitation is advantageous to other methods due to its decreased sample preparation time and lack of dependance on classical readout methods. The image generated is easily captured and analyzed using a standard microscope or mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet.

Magnetic levitation focuses objects of different densities at different levitation heights depending on the object&#39;s density, its magnetic signature, the concentration of paramagnetic solution, and the strength of the magnetic field created by two strong, rare-earth magnets. As the two magnets are placed on top of each other, levitating samples can only be viewed, while maintaining K&#246;hler illumination, by using a microscope turned on its side (Figure 1). The final levitation height ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantification of Cellular Densities and Antigenic Properties using Magnetic Levitation at JoVE.com

Quantification of Cellular Densities and Antigenic Properties using Magnetic Levitation

This paper describes a magnetic levitation-based method that can specifically detect the presence of antigens, either soluble or membrane-bound, by quantifying changes in the levitation height of capture beads with fixed densities.

The described method was developed based on the principles of magnetic levitation, which separates cells and particles based on their density and magnetic ...

This technique allows separation of various cell types and cells undergoing various processes based solely on density with little to no manipulation in a short period of time. The main advantages of this method are that it as minimally invasive, requires small volumes, provides fast results, does not depend on classic readouts, and specialized personnel is not required. This technique can be applied for detecting multiple diseases, for example anemia and sepsis.To begin use the one-click lancing device to prick the finger of the rhesus factor positive blood donor, and collect 10 microliters of blood in one milliliter of DPBS. Add one microliter of fluorescent dye in one milliliter suspension of the rhesus factor positive cells to fluorescently stained the plasma membrane and incubate at 37 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. Pellet the cells by spinning at 5, 600 times G for 15 seconds and wash the pellet three times using one milliliter of DPBS.Resuspend the pellet in one milliliter of HBSS with calcium and magnesium. Use the one-click lancing device to prick the finger of the rhesus factor negative blood donor and collect two microliters of blood. To prepare the experimental tube containing only beads, add 174 microliters of HBSS with calcium and magnesium, one microliter of IgG control beads, one microliter of heavy beads with a 1.2 gram per milliliter density, and 24 microliters of 500 millimolar gadolinium.To prepare the experimental control tube containing IgG, add 172 microliters of HBSS with calcium and magnesium, one microliter of IgG control beads, one microliter of heavy beads, one microliter of rhesus factor negative blood, one microliter of stained rhesus factor positive blood suspension, and 24 microliters of 500 millimolar gadolinium. To prepare the sample experimental tube, add 172 microliters of HBSS with calcium and magnesium, one microliter of anti-RhD coated beads, one microliter of heavy beads, one microliter of rhesus factor negative blood, one microliter of stained rhesus factor positive blood suspension, and 24 microliters of 500 millimolar gadolinium. Set up the magnetic levitation device.And load 50 microliters of the sample into a capillary tube until the tube is filled. Seal the ends of the capillary tube with a capillary sealant ensuring that there are no bubbles. Place the capillary tube in the capillary holder between the top and bottom magnets, adjust the stage and focus for optimal viewing.Wait approximately five to 20 minutes for the cells and beads to settle at their magnetic equilibrium position. Using this protocol, the blood cells were separated depending upon the levitation height using the magnetic levitation device. Low and high density beads were used to provide density levitation heights and size references.The polymorphonuclear cells were levitating above the red blood cells at 21 millimolar gadolinium ion concentration. Old blood cells were levitating at 60 millimolar gadolinium ion concentration. The red blood cells, polymorphonuclear cells, and lymphocytes were separated at 40 millimolar gadolinium ion concentration based on their intrinsic densities.The rhesus factor antigen was detected on the red blood cells using IgG and anti-RhD antibody coated beads. The bead red cell complexes were not generated in the IgG control sample, but the fluorescently stained red blood cells captured by the rhesus factor positive beads were detected. The binding of the anti-RhB to the rhesus factor positive cells created a bead cell complex in the center at intermittent density of the unbound beads and the negative red blood cells.Further, the complex formation was confirmed by observing the emitted fluorescence. The B bead complexes formed between the high and low density beads coated with the antibodies for CR1 and CD47 indicate the presence of red blood cell derived extracellular vesicles. Capping the capillary without introducing bubbles is the most challenging step and requires practice.This method could provide insight for hematology, especially focused on red blood cell diseases.

quantification-cellular-densities-antigenic-properties-using-magnetic

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Isolation of Labile Multi-protein Complexes by in vivo Controlled Cellular Cross-Linking and Immuno-magnetic Affinity Chromatography

The dynamic nature of cellular machineries is frequently built on transient and/or weak protein associations. These low affinity interactions preclude stringent methods for the isolation and identification of protein networks around a protein of interest. The use of chemical crosslinkers allows the selective stabilization of labile interactions, thus bypassing biochemical limitations for purification. Here we present a protocol amenable for cells in culture that uses a homobifunctional crosslinker with a spacer arm of 12 &Aring;, dithiobis-(succinimidyl proprionate) (DSP). DSP is cleaved by reduction of a disulphide bond present in the molecule. Cross-linking combined with immunoaffinity chromatography of proteins of interest with magnetic beads allows the isolation of protein complexes that otherwise would not withstand purification. This protocol is compatible with regular western blot techniques and it can be scaled up for protein identification by mass spectrometry1.
Stephanie A. Zlatic and Pearl V. Ryder contributed equally to this work.

Isolation of Labile Multi-protein Complexes by in vivo Controlled Cellular Cross-Linking and Immuno-magnetic Affinity Chromatography

The cell permeable crosslinker DSP [dithiobis-(succinimidyl propionate)] stabilizes transient and labile interactions in vivo, which allows their isolation using stringent protein complex purification techniques. Here we present a technique for crosslinking cells grown in culture followed by isolation of protein complexes by immunoprecipitation.

The dynamic nature of cellular machineries is frequently built on transient and/or weak protein associations. These low affinity interactions preclude ...

Quantifying Mixing using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Mixing is a unit operation that combines two or more components into a homogeneous mixture. This work involves mixing two viscous liquid streams using an in-line static mixer. The mixer is a split-and-recombine design that employs shear and extensional flow to increase the interfacial contact between the components. A prototype split-and-recombine (SAR) mixer was constructed by aligning a series of thin laser-cut Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) plates held in place in a PVC pipe. Mixing in this device is illustrated in the photograph in Fig. 1. Red dye was added to a portion of the test fluid and used as the minor component being mixed into the major (undyed) component. At the inlet of the mixer, the injected layer of tracer fluid is split into two layers as it flows through the mixing section. On each subsequent mixing section, the number of horizontal layers is duplicated. Ultimately, the single stream of dye is uniformly dispersed throughout the cross section of the device.
 Using a non-Newtonian test fluid of 0.2% Carbopol and a doped tracer fluid of similar composition, mixing in the unit is visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is a very powerful experimental probe of molecular chemical and physical environment as well as sample structure on the length scales from microns to centimeters. This sensitivity has resulted in broad application of these techniques to characterize physical, chemical and/or biological properties of materials ranging from humans to foods to porous media 1, 2. The equipment and conditions used here are suitable for imaging liquids containing substantial amounts of NMR mobile 1H such as ordinary water and organic liquids including oils. Traditionally MRI has utilized super conducting magnets which are not suitable for industrial environments and not portable within a laboratory (Fig. 2). Recent advances in magnet technology have permitted the construction of large volume industrially compatible magnets suitable for imaging process flows. Here, MRI provides spatially resolved component concentrations at different axial locations during the mixing process. This work documents real-time mixing of highly viscous fluids via distributive mixing with an application to personal care products.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a powerful tool to evaluate the effectiveness of process equipment during operation. We discuss the use of MRI to visualize mixing in a static mixer. The application is relevant to personal care products, but can be applied to a broad range of food, chemical, biomass and biological fluids.

Mixing is a unit operation that combines two or more components into a homogeneous mixture.  This work involves mixing two viscous liquid streams using an ...

AFM-based Mapping of the Elastic Properties of Cell Walls: at Tissue, Cellular, and Subcellular Resolutions

We describe a recently developed method to measure mechanical properties of the surfaces of plant tissues using atomic force microscopy (AFM) micro/nano-indentations, for a JPK&#160;AFM. Specifically, in this protocol we measure the apparent Young&#8217;s modulus of cell walls at subcellular resolutions across regions of up to 100 &#181;m&#160;x 100 &#181;m in floral meristems, hypocotyls, and roots. This requires careful preparation of the sample, the correct selection of micro-indenters and indentation depths. To account for cell wall properties only, measurements are performed in highly concentrated solutions of mannitol in order to plasmolyze the cells and thus remove the contribution of cell turgor pressure.
In contrast to other extant techniques, by using different indenters and indentation depths, this method allows simultaneous multiscale measurements, i.e. at subcellular resolutions and across hundreds of cells comprising a tissue. This means that it is now possible&#160;to spatially-temporally characterize the changes that take place in the mechanical properties of cell walls during development, enabling these changes to be correlated with growth and differentiation. This represents a key step to understand how coordinated microscopic cellular changes bring about macroscopic morphogenetic events.
However, several limitations remain: the method can only be used on fairly small samples (around 100 &#181;m in diameter) and only on external tissues; the method is sensitive to tissue topography; it measures only certain aspects of the tissue&#8217;s complex mechanical properties. The technique is being developed rapidly and it is likely that most of these limitations will be resolved in the near future.

We describe a method to map mechanical properties of plant tissues using an atomic force microscope (AFM). We focus on how to record mechanical changes that take place in cell walls during plant development at wide-field mesoscale, enabling these changes to be correlated with growth and morphogenesis.

We describe a recently developed method to measure mechanical properties of the surfaces of plant tissues using atomic force microscopy (AFM) ...

Selected Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry for Absolute Protein Quantification

Absolute quantification of target proteins within complex biological samples is critical to a wide range of research and clinical applications. This protocol provides step-by-step instructions for the development and application of quantitative assays using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mass spectrometry (MS). First, likely quantotypic target peptides are identified based on numerous criteria. This includes identifying proteotypic peptides, avoiding sites of posttranslational modification, and analyzing the uniqueness of the target peptide to the target protein. Next, crude external peptide standards are synthesized and used to develop SRM assays, and the resulting assays are used to perform qualitative analyses of the biological samples. Finally, purified, quantified, heavy isotope labeled internal peptide standards are prepared and used to perform isotope dilution series SRM assays. Analysis of all of the resulting MS data is presented. This protocol was used to accurately assay the absolute abundance of proteins of the chemotaxis signaling pathway within RAW 264.7 cells (a mouse monocyte/macrophage cell line). The quantification of Gi2 (a heterotrimeric G-protein &#945;-subunit) is described in detail.

This protocol describes how to perform absolute quantification assays of target proteins within complex biological samples using selected reaction monitoring. It was used to accurately quantify proteins of the mouse macrophage chemotaxis signaling pathway. Target peptide selection, assay development, and qualitative and quantitative assays are described in detail.

Absolute quantification of target proteins within complex biological samples is critical to a wide range of research and clinical applications. This ...

Automated Quantification and Analysis of Cell Counting Procedures Using ImageJ Plugins

The National Institute of Health&#39;s ImageJ is a powerful, freely available image processing software suite. ImageJ has comprehensive particle analysis algorithms which can be used effectively to count various biological particles. When counting large numbers of cell samples, the hemocytometer presents a bottleneck with regards to time. Likewise, counting membranes from migration/invasion assays with the ImageJ plugin Cell Counter, although accurate, is exceptionally labor intensive, subjective, and infamous for causing wrist pain. To address this need, we developed two plugins within ImageJ for the sole task of automated hemocytometer (or known volume) and migration/invasion cell counting. Both plugins rely on the ability to acquire high quality micrographs with minimal background. They are easy to use and optimized for quick counting and analysis of large sample sizes with built-in analysis tools to help calibration of counts. By combining the core principles of Cell Counter with an automated counting algorithm and post-counting analysis, this greatly increases the ease with which migration assays can be processed without any loss of accuracy.

This paper describes the quantification of hemocytometer and migration/invasion micrographs through two new open-source ImageJ plugins Cell Concentration Calculator and migration assay Counter. Furthermore, it describes image acquisition and calibration protocols as well as discusses in detail the input requirements of the plugins.

The National Institute of Health&#39;s ImageJ is a powerful, freely available image processing software suite. ImageJ has comprehensive particle analysis ...

Cellular Redox Profiling Using High-content Microscopy

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate essential cellular processes including gene expression, migration, differentiation and proliferation. However, excessive ROS levels induce a state of oxidative stress, which is accompanied by irreversible oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins. Thus, quantification of ROS provides a direct proxy for cellular health condition. Since mitochondria are among the major cellular sources and targets of ROS, joint analysis of mitochondrial function and ROS production in the same cells is crucial for better understanding the interconnection in pathophysiological conditions. Therefore, a high-content microscopy-based strategy was developed for simultaneous quantification of intracellular ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (&#916;&#936;m) and mitochondrial morphology. It is based on automated widefield fluorescence microscopy and image analysis of living adherent cells, grown in multi-well plates, and stained with the cell-permeable fluorescent reporter molecules CM-H2DCFDA (ROS) and TMRM (&#916;&#936;m and mitochondrial morphology). In contrast with fluorimetry or flow-cytometry, this strategy allows quantification of subcellular parameters at the level of the individual cell with high spatiotemporal resolution, both before and after experimental stimulation. Importantly, the image-based nature of the method allows extracting morphological parameters in addition to signal intensities. The combined feature set is used for explorative and statistical multivariate data analysis to detect differences between subpopulations, cell types and/or treatments. Here, a detailed description of the assay is provided, along with an example experiment that proves its potential for unambiguous discrimination between cellular states after chemical perturbation.

This paper presents a high-content microscopy workflow for simultaneous quantification of intracellular ROS levels, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential and morphology &#8211; jointly referred to as mitochondrial morphofunction &#8211; in living adherent cells using the cell-permeant fluorescent reporter molecules 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2&#39;,7&#39;-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester (CM-H2DCFDA) and tetramethylrhodamine methylester (TMRM).

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate essential cellular processes including gene expression, migration, differentiation and proliferation. However, ...

Visualizing Lymph Node Structure and Cellular Localization using Ex-Vivo Confocal Microscopy

Lymph nodes (LNs) are organs spread within the body, where the innate immune responses can connect with the adaptive immunity. In fact, LNs are strategically interposed in the path of the lymphatic vessels, allowing intimate contact of tissue antigens with all resident immune cells in the LN. Thus, understanding the cellular composition, distribution, location and interaction using ex vivo whole LN imaging will add to the knowledge on how the body coordinates local and systemic immune responses. This protocol shows an ex vivo imaging strategy following an in vivo administration of fluorescent-labeled antibodies that allows a very reproducible and easy-to-perform methodology by using conventional confocal microscopes and stock reagents. Through subcutaneous injection of antibodies, it is possible to label different cell populations in draining LNs without affecting tissue structures that can be potentially damaged by a conventional immunofluorescence microscopy technique.

This protocol describes a technique to image different cell populations in draining lymph nodes without alterations in the organ structure.

Lymph nodes (LNs) are organs spread within the body, where the innate immune responses can connect with the adaptive immunity. In fact, LNs are ...

Cryogenic Sample Loading into a Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer that Preserves Cellular Viability

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) can dramatically increase the sensitivity of magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. These sensitivity gains increase as temperatures decrease and are large enough to enable the study of molecules at very low concentrations at the operating temperatures (~100 K) of most commercial DNP-equipped NMR spectrometers. This leads to the possibility of in-cell structural biology on cryopreserved cells for macromolecules at their endogenous levels in their native environments. However, the freezing rates required for cellular cryopreservation are exceeded during typical sample handling for DNP MAS NMR and this results in loss of cellular integrity and viability. This article describes a detailed protocol for the preparation and cryogenic transfer of a frozen sample of mammalian cells into a MAS NMR spectrometer.

Presented here is a protocol for cryogenic transfer of frozen samples into the dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe. The protocol includes directions for rotor storage prior to the experiment and directions for viability measurements before and after the experiment.

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) can dramatically increase the sensitivity of magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. ...

Quantification of Interbacterial Competition using Single-Cell Fluorescence Imaging

Interbacterial competition can directly impact the structure and function of microbiomes. This work describes a fluorescence microscopy approach that can be used to visualize and quantify competitive interactions between different bacterial strains at the single-cell level. The protocol described here provides methods for advanced approaches in slide preparation on both upright and inverted epifluorescence microscopes, live-cell and time-lapse imaging techniques, and quantitative image analysis using the open-source software FIJI. The approach in this manuscript outlines the quantification of competitive interactions between symbiotic Vibrio fischeri populations by measuring the change in area over time for two coincubated strains that are expressing different fluorescent proteins from stable plasmids. Alternative methods are described for optimizing this protocol in bacterial model systems that require different growth conditions. Although the assay described here uses conditions optimized for V. fischeri, this approach is highly reproducible and can easily be adapted to study competition among culturable isolates from diverse microbiomes.

This manuscript describes a method for using single-cell fluorescence microscopy to visualize and quantify bacterial competition in coculture.

Interbacterial competition can directly impact the structure and function of microbiomes. This work describes a fluorescence microscopy approach that can ...

Quantitative Analysis of Viscoelastic Properties of Red Blood Cells Using Optical Tweezers and Defocusing Microscopy

The viscoelastic properties of erythrocytes have been investigated by a range of techniques. However, the reported experimental data vary. This is not only attributed to the normal variability of cells, but also to the differences in methods and models of cell response. Here, an integrated protocol using optical tweezers and defocusing microscopy is employed to obtain the rheological features of red blood cells in the frequency range of 1 Hz to 35 Hz. While optical tweezers are utilized to measure the erythrocyte-complex elastic constant, defocusing microscopy is able to obtain the cell height profile, volume, and its form factor a parameter that allows conversion of complex elastic constant into complex shear modulus. Moreover, applying a soft glassy rheology model, the scaling exponent for both moduli can be obtained. The developed methodology allows to explore the mechanical behavior of red blood cells, characterizing their viscoelastic parameters, obtained under well-defined experimental conditions, for several physiological and pathological conditions.

Here, an integrated protocol based on optical tweezers and defocusing microscopy is described to measure the rheological properties of cells. This protocol has wide applicability in studying the viscoelastic properties of erythrocytes under variable physio-pathological conditions.

The viscoelastic properties of erythrocytes have been investigated by a range of techniques. However, the reported experimental data vary. This is not ...