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Method Article

Isolating Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells from a Murine Brain

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July 8th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

Source: Baker, G. J., et al., Lowenstein, P. R. Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. J. Vis. Exp. (2015)

The video demonstrates the isolation of tumor-infiltrating peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a mouse brain using mechanical dissociation and enzymatic digestion. This is followed by density gradient centrifugation to collect the immune cells for further analysis.

Protocol

All procedures involving sample collection have been performed in accordance with the institute's IRB guidelines.

Prepare density centrifugation media mix solution by placing 90 ml of 10x PBS into 264 ml of ultrapure deionized water (3.93x) in a sterile plastic container. Titrate to pH 7.0-7.2 with HCl and filter sterilize through a 0.22 µm filter. Store at 4 °C.

Prepare 70% density centrifugation media by combining 18 ml of density centrifugation media mix solution with 30 ml of density centrifugation media (see materials list for details) in a 50 ml polypropylene centrifuge tube. Store at 4 °C, b....

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Results

Brain sample dissection and centrifuge tube process; Percoll gradient separation, PBMC isolation.
Figure 1: Isolation of Glioma-infiltrating PBMCs. (A) Strategy for the dissection of mouse brain tissue containing early-stage orthotopic glioma implants. The top panel demonstrates the sagittal bisection of the ipsilateral hemisphere away.......

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Disclosures

No conflicts of interest declared.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
Dulbecco's Modification of Eagles MediumGibco12430-054With 4.5g/L D-glucose, L-glutamine, 25mM HEPES and phenol red
Dulbecco's Phosphate-buffered SalineGibco14190-144Without calcium chloride or Magnesium chloride
Fetal bovine serumOmega Scientific Inc.FB-11
Penicillin StreptomycinGibco15140-12210,000U/ml Penicillin; 10,000μg/ml Streptomycin
0.6ml conical polypropylenemi microtubesGenesee Scientific22-272
Polyurethane ice bucketFisherbrand02-591-45Capacity: 0.152 oz. (4.5L)
Collagenase (Type I-S)Sigma AldrichC1639From Clostridium histolyticum
Deoxyribonuclease IWorthington Biochemical Corp.LS002007>2,000 Kunitz units per mg dry weight
Large dissection scissorsTed Pella Inc.1316
Small dissection scissorsFST14094-11
Blunt end forcepsTed Pella Inc.13250
7ml glass Dounce tissue grinderKontesKT885300-0007
Percoll Density Centrifugation MediaGE HealthcareGE17-0891-01
10 mL serological pipettesGenesee Scientific12-104Single use; sterile
70μm sterile nylon mesh cell strainersFisherbrand22363548
15ml polypropylene centrifuge tubesGenesee Scientific21-103Conical bottom
50ml polypropylene centrifuge tubesGenesee Scientific21-108Conical bottom
12x75mm round-bottom polypropylene FACS tubesFisherbrand14-956-1B

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