This work was supported by the American Heart Association (BGIA 7850037 to Dr. Beiyan Zhou).

1. Isolation of Bone Marrow Cells
<ol>
	<li>Isolate femur and tibia bones from 6-8 week old mice, rinse off hair and then cut open the bone.</li>
	<li>Use a 21G needle and 10 ml syringe to flush out marrow into cold PBS+2% heat inactivated Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) (3-5 ml/mouse).</li>
	<li>Pass marrow through a 21G needle 4-6 times to dissociate the cells.</li>
	<li>Pass cells through a 70 &mu;m cell strainer to remove cell clumps, bone, hair and other cells/tissues.</li>
	<li>Add 3 volume of NH4Cl solution (0.8% NH4Cl solution, Stemcell Technology), and incubate on ice for 10 min to remove red blood cells.</li>
	<li>Spin down cells at 500 x g for 5 min at 4 &deg;C.</li>
	<li>Resuspend the cell pellet in cold PBS+2%FBS (20-50 ml, depending on the quantity of cells).</li>
</ol>
2. Induction BMDM Formation
<ol>
	<li>Resuspend the isolated bone marrow cells in BMDM growth medium (2x106 cells/ml).</li>
</ol>
BMDM growth medium:
Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM) + 10% FBS + 15% filtered (0.2 &mu;m) L-929 cell (ATCC, CCL-1) culture supernatant (containing monocyte-colony stimulating factor, M-CSF) or 10 ng/ml M-CSF.
Note: L-929 cell supernatant contains M-CSF18. To ensure the effective activity of conditioned medium, 5 X 105 L-929 cells are seeded in T75 cm2 flasks for 6-7 days, conditioned medium is collected and passed through a 0.45 &mu;M filter before use. Medium aliquots can be used immediately or stored in -80 &deg;C for 1-2 months.
<ol start="2">
	<li>Seed cells in 6 or 12 well tissue culture plates (depending on the experimental design) (Corning Costar).</li>
	<li>Change fresh BMDM growth medium on day 3.</li>
	<li>On day 7, formation of mature BMDM is evaluated using flow cytometry analysis and fluorophore conjugated antibodies to detect cells expressing CD11b and F4/80.</li>
</ol>
3. BMDM Polarized Activation
<ol>
	<li>On day 7, change to fresh stimulation medium: for M1 activation, use IMDM containing 10% FBS and 100 ng/ml LPS or 100 ng/ml LPS with 50 ng/ml IFN&gamma;; for M2 activation, use IMDM containing 10% FBS with 10 ng/ml IL-4 and/or 10 ng/ml IL-13.</li>
	<li>Collect stimulated BMDMs by detaching them from the dish using warm 0.05% trypsin, followed by washing the cells twice with PBS containing 10% FBS.</li>
</ol>
Note: To detach and resuspend mature macrophages after differentiation, 0.05% Trypsin solution (containing 0.48 mM EDTA, Invitrogen) or 2-5 mM EDTA in Ca- and Mg-free PBS or Hank's balanced buffer (HBSS) can be used. When using digestive medium containing trypsin, cells are treated at 37 &deg;C for less than 10 min to avoid loss of surface proteins due to over-digestion.
<ol start="3">
	<li>Use antibodies to detect expression of cell surface antigens, including CD11b, F4/80, CD11c, CD206, CD69, CD80 or CD86 at various time points using standard flow cytometry staining procedures.</li>
	<li>Determine expression of genes characteristic of activated M1 and M2 macrophages including IL-1&beta;, TNF-&alpha; and IL-6 (M1 activation) or IL-10, IL-13, arginase1 and PPAR&gamma; (M2 activation) using qRT-PCR. Determine activation of cell signaling pathways involved in activation of M1 or M2 macrophages by western blotting analysis.</li>
</ol>

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No conflicts of interest declared.

We report here a simple and readily adaptable in vitro procedure to induce activation of macrophages derived from bone marrow progenitor cells. This procedure can be used for investigation of mechanisms responsible for polarization of macrophages. The purity of mature macrophages obtained using this protocol averages 95 to 99%, and no additional purification procedures are required. To investigate the function of specific genes of interests in the context of macrophage polarization, ectopic expression or g...

Distinct from classical inflammatory responses, macrophages that infiltrate tissues often display polarized activation status that plays a crucial role in regulating host tissue physiological functions1-8. Upon stimulation, macrophage activation can be sorted into classic (M1) and alternative (M2) activation2, 4, 9 . M1 macrophage activation depends on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF&kappa;B)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1(JNK1), leading to production of inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-&alpha; and IL-1&beta; and activation of iNOS that results in increased production of reactive oxygen species such as nitride oxide (NO) 10, 11 . In contrast, M2 macrophage activation recruits PPAR&gamma;, PPAR&delta;, or IL-4-STAT6 pathways, leading to alternative, anti-inflammatory (M2) activation that is associated with upregulation of mannose receptor CD206, and arginase 1(Arg1) 6, 12-14 .
Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) present an ideal in vitro model to understand the mechanisms controlling polarization of activated macrophages15. Specifically, activation of M1 macrophages can be induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation, while polarization of M2 macrophages can be induced by IL-4 and/or IL-13. Mature bone marrow derived macrophages and activated macrophages can be identified through flow cytometry analysis for expression of surface antigens, including CD11b, F4/80, CD11c, CD206, CD69, CD80 and CD869, 16, 17. In addition, changes in cytokine production and cell signaling pathways associated with macrophage polarization can be measured by quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. In summary, mouse bone marrow derived macrophages can serve as a relevant model to study macrophage polarization in vitro.

<table border="1">
 <tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of Reagent/Material</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalog Number</td>
 <td>Comments</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>IMDM</td>
 <td>Thermo Scientific</td>
 <td>SH30259.01</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Fetal bovine serum</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>10438-026</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Murine GM-CSF</td>
 <td>PeproTech</td>
 <td> 315-03</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>NH4Cl</td>
 <td>StemCell Technologies</td>
 <td>7850</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>L-929</td>
 <td>ATCC</td>
 <td>CCL-1</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>70 &mu;m cell strainer</td>
 <td>BD Biosciences</td>
 <td>352350</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>10 x PBS</td>
 <td>Thermo Scientific</td>
 <td>AP-9009-10</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anti-mouse CD11b-APC</td>
 <td>eBioscience</td>
 <td>17-0112-81</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anti-mouse F4/80-FITC</td>
 <td>eBioscience</td>
 <td>11-4801-81</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anti-mouse CD69-PE</td>
 <td>eBioscience</td>
 <td>12-0691-81</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Anti-mouse CD86-PE</td>
 <td>eBioscience</td>
 <td>12-0862-81</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Propidium Iodine</td>
 <td>Invitrogen</td>
 <td>P3566</td>
 <td></td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>

investigation of macrophage polarization using bone marrow derived macrophages

The article describes a readily easy adaptive in vitro model to investigate macrophage polarization. In the presence of GM-CSF/M-CSF, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from the bone marrow are directed into monocytic differentiation, followed by M1 or M2 stimulation. The activation status can be tracked by changes in cell surface antigens, gene expression and cell signaling pathways.

A schematic description of the BMDM generation procedure is presented (Figure 1). High purity of mature macrophages can be observed on day 7 when they represent 95 to 99% of CD11b+F4/80+ cells (Figure 2). Polarized macrophages can be examined using antibodies against CD11b, F4/80, CD11c and CD206 followed by flow cytometry analysis. As shown in Figure 3, M1 macrophages are detected as CD11b+F4/80+CD11c+CD206- cells (Q2), whereas M2 macrophages are CD11b+F4/80+CD11c-...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Investigation of Macrophage Polarization Using Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages at JoVE.com

Investigation of Macrophage Polarization Using Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages

The article describes a readily easy adaptive in vitro model to investigate macrophage polarization. In the presence of GM-CSF/M-CSF, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from the bone marrow are directed into monocytic differentiation, followed by M1 or M2 stimulation. The activation status can be tracked by changes in cell surface antigens, gene expression and cell signaling pathways.

The article describes a readily easy adaptive in vitro model to investigate macrophage polarization. In the presence of GM-CSF/M-CSF, hematopoietic ...

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Immunology and Infection

65.9K 조회수.  Texas A&M University. 이 문서는 쉽게 쉽게 적응을 설명 체외에서 모델. GM-CSF/M-CSF의 면전에서, 골수에서 조혈 줄기 / 전구 세포 M1 또는 M2 자극 한 다음, 단핵구 분화에 연결됩니다. 활성 상태는 세포 표면 항원 유전자 발현 및 세포 신호 전달 경로의 변화에​​ 의해 추적 할 수 있습니다.

비디오: Investigation of Macrophage Polarization Using Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages

Toxoplasma gondii Cyst Wall Formation in Activated Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages and Bradyzoite Conditions

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can invade any nucleated cell of warm-blooded animals. During infection, T. gondii disseminates as a fast replicating form called the tachyzoite. Tachyzoites convert into a slow-growing encysted form called the bradyzoite by a signaling process that is not well characterized. Within animals, bradyzoite cysts are found in the central nervous system and muscle tissue and represent the chronic stage of infection. Conversion to bradyzoites can be simulated in tissue culture by CO2 starvation, using medium with high a pH, or the addition of interferon gamma (IFN&gamma;). Bradyzoites are characterized by the presence of a cyst wall, to which the lectin Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) binds. Fluorescently labeled DBA is used to visualize the cyst wall in parasites grown in human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) that have been exposed to low CO2 and high pH medium. Similarly, parasites residing in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) display a cyst wall detectable by DBA after the BMMs are activated with IFN&gamma; and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This protocol will demonstrate how to induce conversion of T. gondii to bradyzoites using a high pH growth medium with low CO2 and activation of BMMs. Host cells will be cultured on coverslips, infected with tachyzoites and either activated with addition of IFN&gamma; and LPS (BMMs) or exposed to a high pH growth medium (HFFs) for three days. Upon completion of infections, host cells will be fixed, permeabilized, and blocked. Cyst walls will be visualized using rhodamine DBA with fluorescence microscopy.

Toxoplasma gondii Cyst Wall Formation in Activated Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages and Bradyzoite Conditions

Toxoplasma gondii converts to a cyst form in response to environmental stresses, which can be mimicked in tissue culture models. This video demonstrates techniques to examine cyst wall formation by activating bone marrow-derived macrophages or changing growth medium pH in fibroblast cells.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can invade any nucleated cell of warm-blooded animals. During infection, T. gondii ...

Bone Marrow-derived Macrophage Production

Macrophages are critical components of the innate and adaptive immune responses, and they are the first line of defense against foreign invaders because of their powerful microbicidal activities. Macrophages are widely distributed throughout the body and are present in the lymphoid organs, liver, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, bone, and skin. Because of their repartition, they participate in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. Macrophages are highly versatile cells that are able to recognize microenvironmental alterations and to maintain tissue homeostasis. Numerous pathogens have evolved mechanisms to use macrophages as Trojan horses to survive, replicate in, and infect both humans and animals and to propagate throughout the body. The recent explosion of interest in evolutionary, genetic, and biochemical aspects of host-pathogen interactions has renewed scientific attention regarding macrophages. Here, we describe a procedure to isolate and cultivate macrophages from murine bone marrow that will provide large numbers of macrophages for studying host-pathogen interactions as well as other processes.

Macrophages have long been recognized as a critical component of the innate and adaptive immune responses. The recent explosion of knowledge pertaining to evolutionary, genetic, and biochemical aspects of the interaction between macrophages and microbes has renewed scientific attention to macrophages. This article describes a method to differentiate macrophages from mouse bone marrow.

Macrophages are critical components of the innate and adaptive immune responses, and they are the first line of defense against foreign invaders because ...

Isolation and Intravenous Injection of Murine Bone Marrow Derived Monocytes

As a subtype of leukocytes and progenitors of macrophages, monocytes are involved in many important processes of organisms and are often the subject of various fields in biomedical science. The method described below is a simple and effective way to isolate murine monocytes from heterogeneous bone marrow.
Bone marrow from the femur and tibia of Balb/c mice is harvested by flushing with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Cell suspension is supplemented with macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and cultured on ultra-low attachment surfaces to avoid adhesion-triggered differentiation of monocytes. The properties and differentiation of monocytes are characterized at various intervals. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), with markers like CD11b, CD115, and F4/80, is used for phenotyping. At the end of cultivation, the suspension consists of 45%&#177; 12% monocytes. By removing adhesive macrophages, the purity can be raised up to 86%&#177; 6%. After the isolation, monocytes can be utilized in various ways, and one of the most effective and common methods for in vivo delivery is intravenous tail vein injection. 
This technique of isolation and application is important for mouse model studies, especially in the fields of inflammation or immunology. Monocytes can also be used therapeutically in mouse disease models.

Here we present a protocol that generates large amounts of murine monocytes from heterogeneous bone marrow for translational applications. In comparison to others, this new method helps reduce the number of sacrificed animals and lowers costs by avoiding expensive methods such as high gradient magnetic cell separation (MACS).

As a subtype of leukocytes and progenitors of macrophages, monocytes are involved in many important processes of organisms and are often the subject of ...

Metabolic Characterization of Polarized M1 and M2 Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis

Specific metabolic pathways are increasingly being recognized as critical hallmarks of macrophage subsets. While LPS-induced classically activated M1 or M(LPS) macrophages are pro-inflammatory, IL-4 induces alternative macrophage activation and these so-called M2 or M(IL-4) support resolution of inflammation and wound healing. Recent evidence shows the crucial role of metabolic reprogramming in the regulation of M1 and M2 macrophage polarization. 
In this manuscript, an extracellular flux analyzer is applied to assess the metabolic characteristics of naive, M1 and M2 polarized mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. This instrument uses pH and oxygen sensors to measure the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR), which can be related to glycolytic and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. As such, both glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism can be measured in real-time in one single assay.
Using this technique, we demonstrate here that inflammatory M1 macrophages display enhanced glycolytic metabolism and reduced mitochondrial activity. Conversely, anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages show high mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and are characterized by an enhanced spare respiratory capacity (SRC). 
The presented functional assay serves as a framework to investigate how particular cytokines, pharmacological compounds, gene knock outs or other interventions affect the macrophage&#8217;s metabolic phenotype and inflammatory status.

Metabolic reprogramming is a characteristic and prerequisite for M1 and M2 macrophage polarization. This manuscript describes an assay for the measurement of fundamental parameters of glycolysis and mitochondrial function in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. This tool can be applied to investigate how particular factors affect the macrophage&#8217;s metabolism and phenotype.

Specific metabolic pathways are increasingly being recognized as critical hallmarks of macrophage subsets. While LPS-induced classically activated M1 or ...

Generation and Identification of GM-CSF Derived Alveolar-like Macrophages and Dendritic Cells From Mouse Bone Marrow

Macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are innate immune cells found in tissues and lymphoid organs that play a key role in the defense against pathogens. However, they are difficult to isolate in sufficient numbers to study them in detail, therefore, in vitro models have been developed. In vitro cultures of bone marrow-derived macrophages and dendritic cells are well-established and valuable methods for immunological studies. Here, a method for culturing and identifying both DCs and macrophages from a single culture of primary mouse bone marrow cells using the cytokine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is described. This protocol is based on the established procedure first developed by Lutz et al. in 1999 for bone marrow-derived DCs. The culture is heterogeneous, and MHCII and fluoresceinated hyaluronan (FL-HA) are used to distinguish macrophages from immature and mature DCs. These GM-CSF derived macrophages provide a convenient source of in vitro derived macrophages that closely resemble alveolar macrophages in both phenotype and function.

Bone marrow cells cultured with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) generate a heterogeneous culture containing macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). This method highlights using MHCII and hyaluronan (HA) binding to differentiate macrophages from the DCs in the GM-CSF culture. Macrophages in this culture have many similarities to alveolar macrophages.

Macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) are innate immune cells found in tissues and lymphoid organs that play a key role in the defense against pathogens. ...

Culture of Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Differentiated Human Monocyte-derived Macrophages

A protocol is presented for cell culture of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) differentiated human monocyte-derived macrophages. For initiation of experiments, fresh or frozen monocytes are cultured in flasks for 1 week with M-CSF to induce their differentiation into macrophages. Then, the macrophages can be harvested and seeded into culture wells at required cell densities for carrying out experiments. The use of defined numbers of macrophages rather than defined numbers of monocytes to initiate macrophage cultures for experiments yields macrophage cultures in which the desired cell density can be more consistently attained. Use of cryopreserved monocytes reduces dependency on donor availability and produces more homogeneous macrophage cultures.

A protocol is presented for cell culture of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) differentiated human monocyte-derived macrophages. The protocol utilizes cryopreservation of monocytes coupled with their bulk differentiation into macrophages. Then harvested macrophages can then be seeded into culture wells at required cell densities for carrying out experiments.

A protocol is presented for cell culture of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) differentiated human monocyte-derived macrophages. For initiation ...

Assessment of Antibody-based Drugs Effects on Murine Bone Marrow and Peritoneal Macrophage Activation

Macrophages are phagocytic innate immune cells, which initiate immune responses to pathogens and contribute to healing and tissue restitution. Macrophages are equally important in turning off inflammatory responses. We have shown that macrophages stimulated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) can produce high amounts of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 10 (IL-10), and low levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). IVIg is a polyvalent antibody, primarily immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs), pooled from the plasma of more than 1,000 blood donors. It is used to supplement antibodies in patients with immune deficiencies or to suppress immune responses in patients with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. Infliximab, a therapeutic anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF&#945;) antibody, has also been shown to activate macrophages to produce IL-10 in response to inflammatory stimuli. IVIg and other antibody-based biologics can be tested to determine their effects on macrophage activation. This paper describes methods for derivation, stimulation, and assessment of murine bone marrow macrophages activated by antibodies in vitro and murine peritoneal macrophages activated with antibodies in vivo. Finally, we demonstrate the use of western blotting to determine the contribution of specific cell signaling pathways to anti-inflammatory macrophage activity. These protocols can be used with genetically modified mice, to determine the effect of a specific protein(s) on anti-inflammatory macrophage activation. These techniques can also be used to assess whether specific biologics may act by changing macrophages to an IL-10-producing anti-inflammatory activation state that reduces inflammatory responses in vivo. This can provide information on the role of macrophage activation in the efficacy of biologics during disease models in mice, and provide insight into a potential new mechanism of action in people. Conversely, this may caution against the use of specific antibody-based biologics to treat infectious disease, particularly if macrophages play an important role in host defense against that infection.

Antibody-based drugs have revolutionized treatment for inflammatory diseases. In addition to having direct effects on specific targets, antibodies can activate macrophages to become anti-inflammatory. This protocol describes how anti-inflammatory macrophage activation can be assessed in vitro, using mouse bone marrow macrophages, and in vivo, using peritoneal macrophages.

Macrophages are phagocytic innate immune cells, which initiate immune responses to pathogens and contribute to healing and tissue restitution. Macrophages ...

Detection of Inflammasome Activation and Pyroptotic Cell Death in Murine Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages

Inflammasomes are innate immune signaling platforms that are required for the successful control of many pathogenic organisms, but also promote inflammatory and autoinflammatory diseases. Inflammasomes are activated by cytosolic pattern recognition receptors, including members of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family. These receptors oligomerize upon the detection of microbial or damage-associated stimuli. Subsequent recruitment of the adaptor protein ASC forms a microscopically visible inflammasome complex, which activates caspase-1 through proximity-induced auto-activation. Following the activation, caspase-1 cleaves pro-IL-1&#946; and pro-IL-18, leading to the activation and secretion of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. Caspase-1 also mediates the inflammatory form of cell death termed pyroptosis, which features the loss of membrane integrity and cell lysis. Caspase-1 cleaves gasdermin D, releasing the N-terminal fragment which forms plasma membrane pores, leading to osmotic lysis.
In vitro, the activation of caspase-1 can be determined by labeling bone marrow-derived macrophages with the caspase-1 activity probe FAM-YVAD-FMK and by labeling the cells with antibodies against the adaptor protein ASC. This technique allows the identification of inflammasome formation and caspase-1 activation in individual cells using fluorescence microscopy. Pyroptotic cell death can be detected by measuring the release of cytosolic lactate dehydrogenase into the medium. This procedure is simple, cost effective and performed in a 96-well plate format, allowing adaptation for screening. In this manuscript, we show that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by nigericin leads to the co-localization of the adaptor protein ASC and active caspase-1, leading to pyroptosis.

We describe the detection of NLRP3 inflammasome activation on cellular basis using fluorescence microscopy and staining for active caspase-1 and the adaptor, ASC. A lactate dehydrogenase release assay is presented to detect pyroptotic lysis on a population basis. These techniques can be adapted to study many aspects of inflammasome biology.

Inflammasomes are innate immune signaling platforms that are required for the successful control of many pathogenic organisms, but also promote ...

Isolation of Lamina Propria Mononuclear Cells from Murine Colon Using Collagenase E

The intestine is the home to the largest number of immune cells in the body. The small and large intestinal immune systems police exposure to exogenous antigens and modulate responses to potent microbially derived immune stimuli. For this reason, the intestine is a major target site of immune dysregulation and inflammation in many diseases including but, not limited to inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn&#8217;s disease and ulcerative colitis, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and many allergic and infectious conditions. Murine models of gastrointestinal inflammation and colitis are heavily used to study GI complications and to pre-clinically optimize strategies for prevention and treatment. Data gleaned from these models via isolation and phenotypic analysis of immune cells from the intestine is critical to further immune understanding that can be applied to ameliorate gastrointestinal and systemic inflammatory disorders. This report describes a highly effective protocol for the isolation of mononuclear cells (MNC) from the colon using a mixed silica-based density gradient interface. This method reproducibly isolates a significant number of viable leukocytes while minimizing contaminating debris, allowing subsequent immune phenotyping by flow cytometry or other methods.

The goal of this protocol is to isolate mononuclear cells that reside in the lamina propria of the colon by enzymatic digestion of the tissue using collagenase. This protocol allows for the efficient isolation of mononuclear cells resulting in a single cell suspension which in turn can be used for robust immunophenotyping.

The intestine is the home to the largest number of immune cells in the body. The small and large intestinal immune systems police exposure to exogenous ...

Isolation and In vitro Culture of Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages for the Study of NO-Redox Biology

Macrophages are derived from hematopoietic progenitor cells throughout the body, are central to inflammatory processes, and participate in innate and adaptive immune responses. In vitro study of macrophages can be undertaken by ex vivo culture from the peritoneum or through differentiation of myeloid bone marrow progenitor cells to form bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). A common approach to macrophage differentiation from precursors involves the use of conditioned media from L929 cells (LCM). This media is easy to self-produce but suffers from batch variability, and its constituents are undefined. Similarly, Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is used to support growth but contains a vast mixture of undefined molecules that may vary between batches. These methods are not adequate for the study of nitric oxide biology and redox mechanisms as they both contain substantial amounts of small molecules that either interfere with redox mechanisms or supplement levels of cofactors, such as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), required for the production of NO from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In this report, we present an optimized protocol allowing for control of the NO-redox environment by reducing the levels of exogenous biopterin while maintaining conditions suitable for cell growth and differentiation. Tight control of culture media composition helps ensure experimental reproducibility and facilitates accurate interpretation of results. In this protocol, BMDMs were obtained from a GTP cyclohydrolase (GCH)- deficient mouse model. Culture of BMDMs was performed with media containing either (i) conditioned LCM, or (ii) recombinant M-CSF and GM-CSF to produce minimal artifacts while obtaining BH4 and NO-deficient culture conditions - thus allowing for the reproducible study of NO-redox biology and immunometabolism in vitro.

Isolation and In vitro Culture of Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages for the Study of NO-Redox Biology

This protocol has been established to culture tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)- and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-deficient primary murine macrophages to study NO-redox biology. The study focuses on reducing potential contamination of BH4 and other artifacts found in traditional isolation and culture methods which may confound experimental outcomes and interpretation of results.

Macrophages are derived from hematopoietic progenitor cells throughout the body, are central to inflammatory processes, and participate in innate and ...