Differentiation of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Macrophages

Overview

This video describes an in vitro method for generating macrophages from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Macrophage generation from iPSCs occurs in three stages: (i) aggregation of iPSCs in suspension to form three-dimensional embryoid bodies (EBs) that differentiate into mesodermal cells, (ii) formation of macrophage precursor cells from the differentiated EBs, and (iii) differentiation of the macrophage precursor cells into mature, functional macrophages.

Protocol

1. Human iPSC Differentiation to Macrophages

NOTE: A schematic summary of the macrophage differentiation protocol is depicted in Figure 1.

1. Preparing cell differentiation growth factors and other reagents
   1. Prepare human embryonic stem cell-serum-free media (hESC-SFM; see Table of Materials) by supplementing Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium-F12 (DMEM/F12) with hESC supplement, 1.8% w/v bovine serum albumin (BSA), and 0.1 mM 2-mercaptoethanol.
   2. Prepare 0.1% w/v solution of porcine gelatin by dissolving the gelatin into sterile water. Gelatin solution can be stored at 4 °C for up to 2 years.
   3. Prepare human bone morphogenetic protein (BMP4) stock solution (25 μg/mL) by dissolving BMP4 into a 4 mM hydrogen chloride (HCl)-0.2% BSA PBS solution. Distribute the stock solution as 50 μL aliquots in cryotubes. Stock solutions can be stored at -20 °C for up to 1 year. Once thawed, stock BMP4 can be stored at 4 °C for 5 days.
   4. Prepare human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stock solution (100 μg/mL) by dissolving VEGF into a 0.2% BSA PBS solution. Distribute the stock solution as 10 μL aliquots in cryotubes. Stock solutions can be stored at -20 °C for up to 1 year. Once thawed, stock VEGF can be stored at 4 °C for 7 days.
   5. Prepare human stem cell factor (SCF) stock solution (100 μg/mL) by dissolving SCF into a 0.2% BSA PBS solution. Distribute the stock solution as 5 μL aliquots in cryotubes. Stock solutions can be stored at -20 °C for up to 1 year. Once thawed, stock SCF can be stored at 4 °C for 10 days.
   6. Prepare human interleukin-3 (IL3) stock solution (10 μg/mL) by dissolving IL3 into a 0.2% BSA PBS solution. Distribute the stock solution as 500 μL aliquots in cryotubes. Stock solutions can be stored at -20 °C for up to 2 years. Once thawed, stock IL3 can be stored at 4 °C for 15 days.
   7. Prepare human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF1) stock solution (10 μg/mL) by dissolving CSF1 into a 0.2% BSA PBS solution. Distribute the stock solution as 1 mL aliquots in cryotubes. Stock solutions can be stored at -20 °C for up to 2 years. Once thawed, stock CSF1 can be stored at 4 °C for 15 days.
2. Stage 1: Generation of embryoid bodies (day 0–day 3)
   1. On day 0, add 2.25 mL of Stage 1 media (hESC-SFM supplemented with 50 ng/mL BMP4, 50 ng/mL VEGF, and 20 ng/mL SCF) into two wells of an ultralow attachment 6-well plates.
   2. Replace maintenance media of one 80% confluent well of iPSCs in a 6-well plate with 1.5 mL of Stage 1 media.
   3. Cut colonies using the cell passaging tool and transfer cut colonies with a pipette into the two wells of an ultralow attachment 6-well plate (see Table of Materials).
   4. On day 2, bring cytokines to a final concentration of 50 ng/mL BMP4, 50 ng/mL VEGF, and 20 ng/mL SCF using 0.5 mL of hESC-SFM media.
      NOTE: IPSC colonies will become EBs (Figure 2A).
3. Stage 2: Emergence of hematopoietic cells in suspension
   1. On day 4, coat 4 wells of a 6-well tissue culture plate with 0.1% w/v gelatin and incubate for at least 10 min.
   2. Remove gelatin and add 2.5 mL of Stage 2 media (X-VIVO15 supplemented with 100 ng/mL CSF1, 25 ng/mL IL-3, 2 mM glutamax, 1% penicillin-streptomycin, and 0.055 mM 2-mercaptoethanol).
   3. Collect formed EBs into a 50 mL centrifuge tube and allow them to settle at the bottom of the tube by gravity. Carefully aspirate the media.
   4. Resuspend EBs in 2 mL of Stage 2 media.
   5. Transfer 10–15 EBs (no more than 15) to a gelatin-coated well containing 2.5 mL of Stage 2 media.
   6. Incubate EBs at 37 °C and 5% CO₂ air.
   7. Change media on plated EBs every 3–4 days for 2–3 weeks.
   8. After 2–3 weeks, the EBs start releasing nonadherent hematopoietic cells into suspension.
      NOTE: This period of suspension cell release can vary and is cell line dependent. Cells in this suspension can be harvested and matured into macrophages (see Stage 3) (Figure 2A).
4. Stage 3: Terminal macrophage maturation
   1. Collect suspension hematopoietic cells and replenish media (Stage 2 media) on the EB plate.
   2. Centrifuge suspension cells at 200 x g for 3 min.
   3. Resuspend suspension cells in Stage 3 media (X-VIVO15 supplemented with 100 ng/mL CSF1, 2 mM glutamax, and 1% penicillin-streptomycin).
   4. Plate collected and spun cells onto untreated plastic 10 cm bacteriological-grade plates (10 mL) or uncoated 6-well tissue culture plates (3 mL) at a 0.2 x 10⁶ cells/mL density.
   5. Keep cells in Stage 3 media for 9–11 days, changing media every 5 days.
      NOTE: Steps 1.4.1–1.4.5 from Stage 3 can be repeated every 3–4 days and suspension cells can be harvested from the original EB plate for up to 3 months.

Representative Results

Figure 1: Graphic summary of iPSC differentiation to mature functional macrophages. Diagram drawn with Biorender.

Figure 2: iPSC differentiation towards macrophages and iPSC-DM number and morphology. (A) Bright Field images obtained from (left to right): an IPSC colony, embryoid bodies (EBs), harvested suspension cells, and mature macrophages. Scale bar = 100 μm. (B) Image of macrophage cytospins stained with Kwik-diff kit. Scale bar = 25 μm. (C) Number of suspension cells collected per harvest per one 6-well plate of EBs. Plot shows mean + SEM; (n = 6 biologically independent experiments).

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
CellMask Deep Red Plasma Membrane Stain	Thermofisher	C10046	Cryopreservation media
Cryostor CS10	Sigma	C2874
CTS CELLstart Substrate	Invitrogen	A1014201	Stem cell substrate
Porcine Skin Gelatin	Sigma	G9136
Recombinant Human BMP4 Protein	R&D	314-BP-010
Recombinant Human IL3	Preprotech	0200-03-10
Recombinant Human MCSF (carrier-free) 100ug	Biolegend	574806
Recombinant Human VEGF Protein	R&D	293-VE-010
SCF (C-Kit Ligand) Recombinant Human Protein	Thermofisher	PHC2111
StemPro hESC SFM	Thermofisher	A1000701
StemPro EZPassage Disposable Stem Cell Passaging Tool	Thermofisher	23181010
Ultralow attachment plates: Cell culture multi-well plate, 6 well, cell star cell repellent surface	Greiner	657970
2-Mercaptoethanol (50 mM)	Invitrogen	31350010
DPBS, calcium, magnesium (500ml)	Thermofisher	14040091
GlutaMAX Supplement	Thermofisher	35050061