Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: Schwann Cell Transplantation Subdues the Pro-Inflammatory Innate Immune Cell Response after Spinal Cord Injury

doi: 10.3390/ijms19092550

Figure Lengend Snippet: SC transplantation shifted the CD11b immune cell population from an Arg1 − iNOS + pro-inflammatory to an intermediate Arg1 + iNOS + phenotype after SCI. Representative images of flow cytometry analysis and pie charts of CD11b population dynamics at 14 days post-injury (7 days post-transplantation) show, compared with SCI controls ( A – C ), a decreased percentage of CD11b cells stained with Arg1 − iNOS + and an increased percentage for Arg1 + iNOS + in animals receiving SC transplants ( D – F ). Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Abbreviations on the graphs are: Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), Allophycocyanin (APC) and Forward Scatter (FSC-A). For panels ( B , E ), the blue dots represent the CD11b population that is iNOS − -Arg1 − , the orange dots represent the CD11b population that is iNOS + -Arg1 − and the green dots represent the CD11b population that is double positive for both iNOS + -Arg1 + . These colored dots are also shown in the forward scatter plots of panels ( A , D ).

Article Snippet: Cells were then washed once with flow cytometry staining buffer (R&D System), fixed, and permeabilized (BD Cytofix/Cytoperm, BD Bioscience) for 20 min to permit immunostaining with selected antibodies against intracellular proteins for 1 h on ice.

Techniques: Transplantation Assay, Flow Cytometry, Staining, Standard Deviation

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: Schwann Cell Transplantation Subdues the Pro-Inflammatory Innate Immune Cell Response after Spinal Cord Injury

doi: 10.3390/ijms19092550

Figure Lengend Snippet: CD68 immune cells with a pro-inflammatory Arg1 − iNOS + phenotype after SCI are reduced by SC transplantation. Representative images of flow cytometry analysis and pie charts of CD68 population dynamics at 14 days post-injury (7 days post-transplantation) reveal that CD68 immune cells with a pro-inflammatory Arg1 − iNOS + phenotype after SCI ( A – C ) are reduced by the intraspinal transplantation of SCs ( D – F ). Results are expressed as mean ± SD. For panels ( A , D ), the orange dots represent the ED1 population that were gated based on their forward and side scatter from the total events (blue) that were acquired. The orange dots in the different quadrants of ( B , E ) represent the ED1 population that was positive for either Arg1 (top left quadrant) or iNOS (bottom right quadrant) or double positive for both markers (top right quadrant).

Article Snippet: Cells were then washed once with flow cytometry staining buffer (R&D System), fixed, and permeabilized (BD Cytofix/Cytoperm, BD Bioscience) for 20 min to permit immunostaining with selected antibodies against intracellular proteins for 1 h on ice.

Techniques: Transplantation Assay, Flow Cytometry

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: Schwann Cell Transplantation Subdues the Pro-Inflammatory Innate Immune Cell Response after Spinal Cord Injury

doi: 10.3390/ijms19092550

Figure Lengend Snippet: CD11b immune cells expressing a highly pro-inflammatory CD38 + iNOS + phenotype or anti-inflammatory Arg1 + CD163 + form after SCI were unaltered by SC transplantation. Representative images of flow cytometry analysis and pie charts of CD11b population dynamics at 14 days post-injury (7 days post-transplantation) reveal that CD11b immune cells with a highly pro-inflammatory CD38 + iNOS + phenotype after SCI ( A , B ) are not altered by SC transplantation ( E , F ). Similarly, CD11b immune cells with a highly anti-inflammatory Arg1 + CD163 + phenotype were unchanged across SCI controls ( C , D ) and SC-transplanted groups ( G , H ). Results are expressed as mean ± SD. For panels ( A , B ), the blue dots represent the CD11b population that were CD38 − iNOS − , the orange dots represent the CD11b population that were CD38 − iNOS + , the gray dots represent the CD11b population that were CD38 + iNOS − and the green dots represent the CD11b population that were double positive for both CD38 + iNOS + . For panels ( C , D ), the configuration for the colored dots is the same for the representation labeling, single, double or absent, though the proteins Arg1 and CD163 are represented rather than CD38 and iNOS.

Article Snippet: Cells were then washed once with flow cytometry staining buffer (R&D System), fixed, and permeabilized (BD Cytofix/Cytoperm, BD Bioscience) for 20 min to permit immunostaining with selected antibodies against intracellular proteins for 1 h on ice.

Techniques: Expressing, Transplantation Assay, Flow Cytometry, Labeling

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: Schwann Cell Transplantation Subdues the Pro-Inflammatory Innate Immune Cell Response after Spinal Cord Injury

doi: 10.3390/ijms19092550

Figure Lengend Snippet: Cytokine profile of CD11b + cells is unaltered by SC implants after SCI. Representative images of flow cytometry analysis and pie charts of CD11b population dynamics at 14 days post-injury (7 days post-transplantation) show that CD11b immune cells have unaltered expression of pro- (TNF-α, IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines comparatively among SCI controls ( A – E ) and SC-transplanted groups ( F – J ). Results are expressed as mean ± SD. For panels ( A – D , F – I ) the blue dots represent the cell population that were CD11b − or did not express the selected cytokines, whereas the green dots represent the CD11b + population that expressed CD11b and the cytokine of interest (top right quadrant).

Article Snippet: Cells were then washed once with flow cytometry staining buffer (R&D System), fixed, and permeabilized (BD Cytofix/Cytoperm, BD Bioscience) for 20 min to permit immunostaining with selected antibodies against intracellular proteins for 1 h on ice.

Techniques: Flow Cytometry, Transplantation Assay, Expressing

Journal: Cancers

Article Title: Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance.

doi: 10.3390/cancers16132367

Figure Lengend Snippet: Figure 1. Influence of effector cell preparation, choice of effector cell, and E/T ratio on the measure- ment of trastuzumab-mediated ADCC using LDH ADCC assay. a–d. Influence of cryopreservation and the recovery cultivation time (4 h to overnight in RPMI-1640 with 10% FBS) on the recovery rate (a), viability of recovered PBMCs (b), the rate of NK cell isolation from the PBMCs (c), and the viability of isolated NK cells (d). Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism using one-way ANOVA mixed-effects statistical analysis based on matched rows and recovery time as repeated measure with Tukey’s post hoc test. Overall p values for Figure 1a–d are <0.0001, 0.0126, 0.2553 (no statistical significance among three groups), and 0.0185, respectively; * p < 0.05 and **** p < 0.0001 (e) ADCC activity of trastuzumab with NK cells from immediately thawed PBMCs or overnight recovered PBMCs as effector cells with E/T ratio 20:1 measured after treatment for 5 h, 24 h, or 48 h. (f) ADCC activity of trastuzumab with immediately thawed or overnight recovered PBMCs as effector cells with E/T ratio 20:1 after treatment for 24 h. Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism using two-way ANOVA with Šídák’s multiple comparisons test. Overall p value < 0.0001 for unrecovered compared to overnight recovered PBMCs. For (e,f), SKBR-3 cells were treated with trastuzumab (0–1 µg/mL) and NK cells, and killing of SKBR-3 was measured using the LDH ADCC assay. NC stands for the no-cell or media-only control, E stands for the effector-cell-only control, and T stands for the target-cell-only control. Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism using two-way ANOVA, and p values are <0.0001. (g) Comparing Emax and EC50 values of LDH ADCC activity between different

Article Snippet: A FlowX Human NK Cell Phenotyping Flow Cytometry Kit (R&D Systems, Cat# FMC033, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was performed to assess NK cell phenotype using flow cytometry.

Techniques: ADCC Assay, Cell Isolation, Isolation, Activity Assay, Control

Journal: Cancers

Article Title: Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance.

doi: 10.3390/cancers16132367

Figure Lengend Snippet: Figure 2. Influence of the recovery culturing time and method on LDH ADCC assay and cellular expression of granulation proteins. (a) Comparison of ADCC activity of trastuzumab with NK cells isolated from PBMCs recovered for different times 0 h (NR), 4 h, or 24 h. Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism using two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. **** p < 0.0001; (b) Comparison of trastuzumab induced ADCC activity using NK cells that underwent overnight recovery after isolation from thawed cryopreserved PBMCs (R-iso for “recovered after isolation”), and NK cells isolated from the overnight recovered PBMCs (R-PB). Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism using two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. **** p < 0.0001. SKBR-3 cells were treated with trastuzumab (0–0.01 µg/mL) and NK cells with E/T ratio 5:1 for 24 h, and killing of SKBR-3 was measured with LDH ADCC assay; (c) Representative antiperforin, antigranzyme B, and Anti GAPDH immunoblot in NK cells isolated from unrecovered (NR) PBMCs or from PBMCs after recovery cultivation for different time points (4 h, 24 h) with E/T ratio 5:1. Lanes 1–3, 4–6, and 7–9 show expression levels for NK cells after incubation for 24 h hours with media only, with SKBR-3 only, and with SKBR-3 and trastuzumab, respectively. All lanes were run in the same gel, and images were

Article Snippet: A FlowX Human NK Cell Phenotyping Flow Cytometry Kit (R&D Systems, Cat# FMC033, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was performed to assess NK cell phenotype using flow cytometry.

Techniques: ADCC Assay, Expressing, Comparison, Activity Assay, Isolation, Western Blot, Incubation

Journal: Cancers

Article Title: Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance.

doi: 10.3390/cancers16132367

Figure Lengend Snippet: Figure 3. Influence of the recovery culturing time and method on the extracellular release of gran- ulation proteins and cytokines secretion. (a–d) Comparison of the secretion levels of perforin (a), granzyme B (b), TNFα (c), and IFNγ (d) using ELISA in the 24 h cell culture media of the target cell SKBR-3 (T), the effector cells NK (E), coculture of SKBR-3 and NK (E+T), and trastuzumab-treated coculture of SKBR-3 and NK (Tras) with E/T ratio 5:1. Data in this figure were analyzed with Graph- Pad Prism using one-way ANOVA analysis with Tukey’s post hoc test (**** p < 0.0001). * Fresh NK cells were prepared from a different donor; thus, they were not included in statistical analysis.

Article Snippet: A FlowX Human NK Cell Phenotyping Flow Cytometry Kit (R&D Systems, Cat# FMC033, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was performed to assess NK cell phenotype using flow cytometry.

Techniques: Comparison, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Cell Culture

Journal: Cancers

Article Title: Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance.

doi: 10.3390/cancers16132367

Figure Lengend Snippet: Figure 4. The recovery culturing downregulates expression of CD16 and CD56 on NK cells. (a) Represen- tative immunoblot of CD16A (FcγRIIIa) in the whole cell lysates of NK cells isolated from unrecovered

Article Snippet: A FlowX Human NK Cell Phenotyping Flow Cytometry Kit (R&D Systems, Cat# FMC033, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was performed to assess NK cell phenotype using flow cytometry.

Techniques: Expressing, Western Blot, Isolation

Journal: Cancers

Article Title: Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance.

doi: 10.3390/cancers16132367

Figure Lengend Snippet: Figure 5. Phenotyping by flow cytometry indicates activation of NK cells by upregulation of CD69 during the recovery cultivation. (a) Flow cytometry analysis of surface CD69 expression in NK cells

Article Snippet: A FlowX Human NK Cell Phenotyping Flow Cytometry Kit (R&D Systems, Cat# FMC033, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was performed to assess NK cell phenotype using flow cytometry.

Techniques: Flow Cytometry, Activation Assay, Expressing

Journal: Cancers

Article Title: Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance.

doi: 10.3390/cancers16132367

Figure Lengend Snippet: Figure 6. Choice of target cell lines in the LDH ADCC assay and ADCC reporter assay. (a) Represen- tative immunoblots using lysates from HER2-positive cell lines; (b) Quantitation of the immunoblot; (c) Dose-dependent curves of trastuzumab-mediated LDH ADCC assay using SKBR-3, BT-474, and NCI-N87 cells. Target cells were treated with trastuzumab (0–1 µg/mL) and NK cells with E/T ratio 5:1 for 24 h and killing of SKBR-3 was measured with LDH ADCC assay; (c) Dose-dependent curves of trastuzumab-mediated ADCC activity using ADCC reporter assay in SKBR-3, BT-474 and NCI-N87 cells. Target cells were treated with trastuzumab (0–5 µg/mL) and Promega ADCC reporter cells with E/T ratio 6:1 and luminescence was measured after 6 h.

Article Snippet: A FlowX Human NK Cell Phenotyping Flow Cytometry Kit (R&D Systems, Cat# FMC033, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was performed to assess NK cell phenotype using flow cytometry.

Techniques: ADCC Assay, Reporter Assay, Western Blot, Quantitation Assay, Activity Assay

Journal: Cancers

Article Title: Define Critical Parameters of Trastuzumab-Mediated ADCC Assays via Assay Optimization Processes, Focusing on the Impact of Cryopreserved Effector Cells on Assay Performance.

doi: 10.3390/cancers16132367

Figure Lengend Snippet: Figure 7. Influence of assay buffer, target cell plating method, and treatment time on the measurement of ADCC of trastuzumab. (a) Luminescence fold changes from the LDH ADCC assay using RPMI-1640 with 1% BSA or 1% FBS. Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism using two-way ANOVA with Šídák’s multiple comparisons test. p value < 0.0001 for 1% BSA vs. 1% FBS; (b) Luminescence fold changes using the LDH ADCC assay performed with either overnight or same-day culture of SKBR-3 target cells plated with 1% BSA or overnight culture of SKBR-3 in 10% FBS. Data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism using two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. **** p < 0.0001. SKBR-3 cells were treated with trastuzumab (0–1 µg/mL) and NK cells with E/T ratio 5:1, and the killing of SKBR-3 was measured with the LDH ADCC assay, where “E” stands for effector-cell-only control.

Article Snippet: A FlowX Human NK Cell Phenotyping Flow Cytometry Kit (R&D Systems, Cat# FMC033, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was performed to assess NK cell phenotype using flow cytometry.

Techniques: ADCC Assay, Control

Journal: International Journal of Biological Sciences

Article Title: Apoptotic Cancer Cell-Primed Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Suppress Immunosuppressive Macrophages via WISP-1-Integrin α5β3-STAT1 Signaling in Lung Cancer

doi: 10.7150/ijbs.124282

Figure Lengend Snippet: CM from CAFs exposed to apoptotic cancer cells reduces M2 macrophage survival, induces apoptosis, and promotes reprogramming toward an M1 phenotype in vitro . ( a, b ) Cell viability assay of M1 (M1) or M2 macrophages (M2) derived from THP-1 cells and BMDMs. ( c, d ) Apoptotic M1 or M2 macrophages were quantified as the sum of the percentages of early and late stages of apoptosis. Flow cytometry analysis after Annexin V-FICT/PI dual staining was employed to evaluate apoptosis. ( e ) Immunoblot analysis of Bax, Mcl-1, Bcl-xL, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved PARP, and β-actin in THP-1-derived M2 macrophages. ( a-e ) CAFs were exposed to apoptotic 344SQ cells (ApoSQ) or necrotic cancer cells (NecSQ) for 20 h. Conditioned medium from CAFs only (CAF CM), exposed to ApoSQ (ApoSQ-CAF CM) or NecSQ (NecSQ-CAF CM) was treated to THP-1- or BMDM-derived M1 and M2 macrophages for the indicated days ( a , b ), or 3 days ( c-e ). ( f ) Heatmap showing differentially expressed macrophage polarization-related genes in THP-1-derived M2 macrophages treated with CM for 3 days ( left ). Red: high expression; blue: low expression. Relative expression of selected genes from PCR array profiling of macrophage polarization markers ( right ). Log2 fold-change values (ApoSQ-CAF CM vs. CAF CM). ( g ) qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA levels of M1 ( Nos2 , MhcII , and Il12p40 ) and M2 ( Tgfβ1 , Il10 , and Il4 ) markers in THP-1-derived M2 macrophages treated with CM for 3 days. ( h ) ELISA of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-13 in the culture supernatant of M2 macrophages treated with CM for 3 days. ( i ) Flow cytometry analysis of the population of CD80 + and CD206 + cells among M2 macrophages derived from THP-1 cells for 2 or 3 days. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values ( right ). NS, not significant; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, two-tailed Student's t -test. Data are from one experiment representative of three independent experiments with similar results ( c , f and i left ; e ) or from three independent experiments (mean ± standard error: a , b , d , g , h ; c , f and i right ).

Article Snippet: To establish M1 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml of IFN-γ (R&D Systems) and 100 ng/ml of lipopolysaccharide (Sigma-Aldrich) for an additional 48 h. To establish M2 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml IL-4 and 20 ng/ml IL-13 (R&D Systems) for an additional 48 h. Following polarization, cells were harvested for immunoblot analysis or fixed for immunofluorescent staining.

Techniques: In Vitro, Viability Assay, Derivative Assay, Flow Cytometry, Staining, Western Blot, Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Fluorescence, Two Tailed Test

Journal: International Journal of Biological Sciences

Article Title: Apoptotic Cancer Cell-Primed Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Suppress Immunosuppressive Macrophages via WISP-1-Integrin α5β3-STAT1 Signaling in Lung Cancer

doi: 10.7150/ijbs.124282

Figure Lengend Snippet: ApoSQ-CAF CM activates STAT1 in M2 macrophages. ( a, b ) Immunoblot analysis of the indicated proteins in THP-1-derived M1 (M1) and M2 macrophages (M2) treated with CAF CM or ApoSQ-CAF CM for the indicated time. ( c ) Immunofluorescence staining for phosphorylated STAT1 and p21 ( Left ) and quantitation ( Right ) in M2 macrophages for 1 h after treatment with CAF CM or ApoSQ-CAF CM. The imaging medium was VECTASHIELD fluorescence mounting medium containing DAPI. Original magnification: ×400. Scale bars = 20 μm. ( d ) Immunoblot analysis of STAT1 in M2 macrophages transfected with control or STAT1 siRNA ( upper ). Densitometric analysis of the relative STAT1 abundance ( lower ). ( e ) Cell viability assay of M2 macrophages. ( f ) Left: Flow cytometry analysis after Annexin V-FICT/PI dual staining was employed to evaluate the cell apoptosis of M2 macrophages. Right : Apoptotic cells were quantified as the sum of the percentages of early and late stages of apoptosis. ( g ) Immunoblot analysis of the indicated proteins in M2 macrophage lysates. ( h ) qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA levels of M1 ( Nos2 , MhcII , and Il12p40 ) and M2 ( Tgfβ1 , Il10 , and Il4 ) markers in M2 macrophages (M2). ( i ) ELISA of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-13 in the culture supernatant of M2 macrophages. ( j ) Flow cytometry analysis of the population of CD80 + and CD206 + cells among M2 macrophages. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values ( right ). ( e - j ) THP-1-derived M2 macrophages were transfected with control or STAT1 siRNA for 24 h before treatment with CM for 2 or 3 days. NS: not significant; ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, two-tailed Student's t -test. The data are from one experiment representative of three independent experiments with similar results ( a , b, g ; c , f , and j left ; d upper ) or from three independent experiments (mean ± standard error in c , f , and j right ; d lower ; e , h , i ).

Article Snippet: To establish M1 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml of IFN-γ (R&D Systems) and 100 ng/ml of lipopolysaccharide (Sigma-Aldrich) for an additional 48 h. To establish M2 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml IL-4 and 20 ng/ml IL-13 (R&D Systems) for an additional 48 h. Following polarization, cells were harvested for immunoblot analysis or fixed for immunofluorescent staining.

Techniques: Western Blot, Derivative Assay, Immunofluorescence, Staining, Quantitation Assay, Imaging, Fluorescence, Transfection, Control, Viability Assay, Flow Cytometry, Quantitative RT-PCR, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Two Tailed Test

Journal: International Journal of Biological Sciences

Article Title: Apoptotic Cancer Cell-Primed Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Suppress Immunosuppressive Macrophages via WISP-1-Integrin α5β3-STAT1 Signaling in Lung Cancer

doi: 10.7150/ijbs.124282

Figure Lengend Snippet: Recombinant WISP-1 reduces M2 macrophage survival, induces apoptosis, and promotes reprogramming toward an M1-like phenotype. ( a ) Cell viability assay of THP-1-derived M1 (M1) and M2 macrophages (M2) treated with 20-100 ng/ml mouse (rWISP-1) or human WISP-1 ( h rWISP-1) for 3 days. ( b ) Left: Flow cytometry analysis after Annexin V-FICT/PI dual staining was employed to evaluate the apoptosis of THP-1- derived M1 and M2 macrophages after treatment with h rWISP- (20-100 ng/ml) for 3 days. Right : Apoptotic cells were quantified as the sum of the percentages of early and late stages of apoptosis. ( c ) qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA levels of M1 ( Nos2 , MhcII , and Il12p40 ) and M2 ( Tgfβ1 , Il10 , and Il4 ) markers in M2 macrophages treated with 20-100 ng/ml h rWISP-1 for 3 days. ( d ) ELISA of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-13 in the culture supernatant of M2 macrophages treated with 20-100 ng/ml h rWISP-1 for 3 days. ( e ) Flow cytometry analysis of the population of CD80 + and CD206 + cells among M2 macrophages after treatment with h rWISP-1 (20-100 ng/ml) for 2 or 3 days. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values ( right ). ( f ) Heatmap showing differentially expressed macrophage polarization-related genes in THP-1-derived M2 macrophages ( left ). Red: high expression; blue: low expression. Relative expression of selected genes from PCR array profiling of macrophage polarization markers ( right ). Log2 fold-change values ( h rWISP-1 vs. Vehicle). THP-1-derived M2 macrophages were treated with h rWISP-1 (50 ng/ml) for 3 days. NS: not significant; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, two-tailed Student's t -test. The data are from one experiment representative of three independent experiments with similar results ( b , e , and f left ) or from three independent experiments (mean ± standard error: a , c , d ; b , e and f right ).

Article Snippet: To establish M1 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml of IFN-γ (R&D Systems) and 100 ng/ml of lipopolysaccharide (Sigma-Aldrich) for an additional 48 h. To establish M2 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml IL-4 and 20 ng/ml IL-13 (R&D Systems) for an additional 48 h. Following polarization, cells were harvested for immunoblot analysis or fixed for immunofluorescent staining.

Techniques: Recombinant, Viability Assay, Derivative Assay, Flow Cytometry, Staining, Quantitative RT-PCR, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Fluorescence, Expressing, Two Tailed Test

Journal: International Journal of Biological Sciences

Article Title: Apoptotic Cancer Cell-Primed Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Suppress Immunosuppressive Macrophages via WISP-1-Integrin α5β3-STAT1 Signaling in Lung Cancer

doi: 10.7150/ijbs.124282

Figure Lengend Snippet: rWISP-1 acts through integrin α5β3 to activate STAT1 in M2 macrophages. ( a , i ) Cell viability assay of M2 macrophages treated with 50 ng/ml human rWISP-1 ( h rWISP-1) for 3 days. ( b , j ) Apoptotic cells were quantified as the sum of the percentages of early and late stages of apoptosis. Flow cytometry analysis after Annexin V-FICT/PI dual staining was employed to evaluate the cell apoptosis of M2 macrophages treated with h rWISP-1 for 3 days. ( c , l ) qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA levels of M1 ( Nos2 , MhcII , and Il12p40 ) and M2 ( Tgfβ1 , Il10 , and Il4 ) markers in M2 macrophages treated with h rWISP-1 for 3 days. ( d , m ) ELISA of the cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-13) in the culture supernatants of M2 macrophages treated with h rWISP-1 for 3 days. ( e , n ) Flow cytometry analysis of the population of CD80 + and CD206 + cells among M2 macrophages treated with h rWISP-1 for 2 or 3 days. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values ( right ). ( f ) CoIP assays of protein interaction in M2 macrophages. Cell lysates were immunoprecipitated (IP) with anti-WISP-1 and then immunoblotted with anti-integrin α5 and anti-integrin β3 antibodies. ( g , h ) Immunoblot analysis of phosphorylated and total STAT1 in THP-1-derived M2 macrophages treated with ApoSQ-CAF CM or h rWISP-1 for the indicated time ( g ) or 30 min ( h ). ( k ) Immunoblot analysis of the indicated proteins in M2 macrophages treated with h rWISP-1 for 3 days. ( a-e ) THP-1-derived M2 macrophages were pretreated with an anti-integrin blocking antibody (3 μg/ml; anti-integrin αν, α5, β3 or β5) or corresponding IgG isotype control for 30 min before treatment with rWISP-1 (50 ng/ml). ( i-n ) THP-1-derived M2 macrophages were transfected with control or STAT1 siRNA before treatment with h rWISP-1 (50 ng/ml). NS: not significant; ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, two-tailed Student's t -test. The data are from one experiment representative of three independent experiments with similar results ( e , j , and n left ; f , g , h , k ) or from three independent experiments (mean ± standard error: a-d , i , l , m ; e , j , and n right ).

Article Snippet: To establish M1 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml of IFN-γ (R&D Systems) and 100 ng/ml of lipopolysaccharide (Sigma-Aldrich) for an additional 48 h. To establish M2 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml IL-4 and 20 ng/ml IL-13 (R&D Systems) for an additional 48 h. Following polarization, cells were harvested for immunoblot analysis or fixed for immunofluorescent staining.

Techniques: Viability Assay, Flow Cytometry, Staining, Quantitative RT-PCR, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Fluorescence, Immunoprecipitation, Western Blot, Derivative Assay, Blocking Assay, Control, Transfection, Two Tailed Test

Journal: International Journal of Biological Sciences

Article Title: Apoptotic Cancer Cell-Primed Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Suppress Immunosuppressive Macrophages via WISP-1-Integrin α5β3-STAT1 Signaling in Lung Cancer

doi: 10.7150/ijbs.124282

Figure Lengend Snippet: ApoSQ-CAF CM promotes M2-to-M1 TAM reprogramming and activates STAT1 in M2 TAMs via WISP-1. The experimental design was described in Fig. a. ( a ) Heatmap showing differentially expressed genes encoding M1 and M2 marker-related molecules in isolated CD11b + TAMs from primary tumors (left). Red: high expression; blue: low expression. Relative expression of selected genes from PCR array profiling of macrophage polarization markers (right). Log2 fold-change values (ApoSQ-CAF CM vs. CAF CM). ( b ) qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA levels of M2 markers ( Arg1 , Cd206 , Cd163 , Il4 , Il10 , Tgfβ1 ), and M1 markers ( Tnfα , Cd80 , MhcII , Nos2 , Ifng , and Il12p40 ) in isolated CD11b + TAMs from primary tumors. NS: not significant; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, Analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test. ( c ) Immunoblot analysis of Arg1, CD206, iNOS, and CD16/32 in isolated CD11b + TAMs from primary tumors. ( d , e ) Flow cytometry analysis of the population of M1 TAMs (MHCII + and CD80 + ) and M2 TAMs (CD163 + and CD206 + ) in CD11b + TAMs from primary tumors. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values ( right ). ( f ) Upper: Representative flow cytometry plots in CD11b + TAMs. Lower : TAM ratio (CD163 + /MHCII + TAMs). ( g-k ) Flow cytometry analysis of the population of M2 macrophages ( g ), Tregs ( h ), M1 macrophages ( i ), CD8 + T cells ( j ), and CD4 + T cells ( k ). Tumor-infiltrating immune cells were stained with antibodies against CD45, CD11b, CD3, CD4, CD8, FoxP3, MHCII, and Ly6C. Absolute number of each cell type was counted using flow cytometry. ( a , d-k ) NS, not significant; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001, two-tailed Student's t -test. ( a - k ) The data are from three replicates per condition, with cells pooled from three mice per replicate. ( l, n ) Representative confocal images of primary tumor sections stained with an anti-phosphorylated STAT1 (red), anti-CD206 antibody (green), anti-iNOS antibody (green), and DAPI (blue). Original magnification: ×40. Scale bars = 100 μm. ( m , o ) Quantification of phosphorylated STAT1 + cells among CD206 + cells and iNOS + cells. NS, not significant; *** P < 0.001, Analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test. The data are from one experiment representative of three independent experiments with similar results ( a , d and e left ; c , l , n ; f upper ) or from three independent experiments (mean ± standard error: a , d and e right ; b, g-k , m , o ; f lower ).

Article Snippet: To establish M1 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml of IFN-γ (R&D Systems) and 100 ng/ml of lipopolysaccharide (Sigma-Aldrich) for an additional 48 h. To establish M2 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml IL-4 and 20 ng/ml IL-13 (R&D Systems) for an additional 48 h. Following polarization, cells were harvested for immunoblot analysis or fixed for immunofluorescent staining.

Techniques: Marker, Isolation, Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR, Western Blot, Flow Cytometry, Fluorescence, Staining, Two Tailed Test

Journal: International Journal of Biological Sciences

Article Title: Apoptotic Cancer Cell-Primed Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Suppress Immunosuppressive Macrophages via WISP-1-Integrin α5β3-STAT1 Signaling in Lung Cancer

doi: 10.7150/ijbs.124282

Figure Lengend Snippet: Administration of rWISP-1 reduces TAM density, decrease the M2 fraction and marker expression, and activates STAT1 in M2 TAMs. The experimental design was described in Supplementary a. Where indicated, rWISP-1 (12.5 and 25 μg/kg) was administered intratumorally three times a week for 6 weeks starting 2 days after subcutaneous implantation of 344SQ cells into syngeneic (129/Sν) mice (n = 6 mice per group). Mice were necropsied 6 weeks later. ( a , b ) Upper : Immunofluorescent staining of primary tumor sections showing M2 TAM Markers Arg1 (green) and CD206 (green), along with the pan-macrophage marker CD11b (red). Original magnification: ×40. Scale bars = 100 μm. Lower : Quantitation of Arg1 + and CD206 + TAM (M2) density ( left ) and the fraction of M2 TAMs ( right ) in primary tumors. The fraction of M2 TAMs were determined by the percentage of M2 TAMs within CD11b + TAMs. ( c ) qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA levels of M2 markers ( Arg1 , CD206 , CD163 , IL-4 , IL-10 , TGF-β1 ), and M1 markers ( TNFα , CD80 , MhcII , NOS2, Ifng, and IL-12 p40 ) in isolated CD11b + TAMs from primary tumors. ( d ) Immunoblot analysis of Arg1, CD206, iNOS, and CD16/32 in isolated CD11b + TAMs from primary tumors. ( e, g ) Representative confocal images of primary tumor sections stained with an anti-phosphorylated STAT1 (red), anti-CD206 antibody (green), anti-CD86 antibody (green), and DAPI (blue). Original magnification: ×40. Scale bars = 100 μm. ( f , h ) Quantification of phosphorylated STAT1 + cells among CD206 + cells and CD86 + cells. NS, not significant; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001 compared to Vehicle or as indicated; ### P < 0.001 compared to Vehicle, Analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test. The data are from one experiment representative of three independent experiments with similar results ( a and b upper ; d , e , g ). The data are represented as the means ± standard errors from three mice per group ( a and b lower ; c , f , h ).

Article Snippet: To establish M1 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml of IFN-γ (R&D Systems) and 100 ng/ml of lipopolysaccharide (Sigma-Aldrich) for an additional 48 h. To establish M2 macrophages, the unpolarized macrophages were stimulated with 20 ng/ml IL-4 and 20 ng/ml IL-13 (R&D Systems) for an additional 48 h. Following polarization, cells were harvested for immunoblot analysis or fixed for immunofluorescent staining.

Techniques: Marker, Expressing, Staining, Quantitation Assay, Quantitative RT-PCR, Isolation, Western Blot