Visualizing Non-lytic Exocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans from Macrophages Using Digital Light Microscopy

Summary

We describe how to visualize macrophage-C. neoformans (Cn) interactions in real time, with specific emphasis on the process of non-lytic exocytosis using digital light microscopy. Using this technique individually infected macrophages can be studied to ascertain various aspects of this phenomenon.

Abstract

Many aspects of the infection of macrophages by Cryptococcus neoformans have been extensively studied and well defined. However, one particular interaction that is not clearly understood is non-lytic exocytosis. In this process, yeast cells are released into the extracellular space by a poorly understood mechanism that leaves both the macrophage and Cn viable. Here, we describe how to follow a large number of individually infected macrophages for a 24 hr infection period by time-lapsed microscopy. Infected macrophages are housed in a heating chamber with a CO₂ atmosphere attached to a microscope that provides the same conditions as a cell-culture incubator. Live digital microscopy can provide information about the dynamic interactions between a host and pathogen that is not available from static images. Being able to visualize each infected cell can provide clues as to how macrophages handle fungal infections, and vice versa. This technique is a powerful tool in studying the dynamics that are behind a complex phenomenon.

Introduction

The stages of a fungal infection between cryptococcal cells and macrophages are well documented ^1-3. After yeast cells are ingested by macrophages, a variety of interactions may occur: the macrophage may lyse releasing its fungal load into the extracellular space, or it could control the infection by keeping the yeast cells within the confines of its cellular membrane ⁴. However, several years ago a new outcome was described independently by two groups: non-lytic exocytosis, a process in which a macrophage expunged some or all of the cryptococcal cells into the surrounding environment or a neighboring cell and both host and pathogen remain viable....

Protocol

All animal work was done in accordance with regulations and guidelines of the Institute for Animal Studies at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

1. Growth Conditions of C. neoformans H99 (Serotype A)

1. Grow individual C. neoformans (Cn) colonies on Sabouraud agar plates.
2. One day prior to the experiment, select one colony and inoculate 10 ml of Sabouraud broth.
3. Allow culture to grow overnight at 37 °C shaking at a speed of 250 rpm.

2. Isolation and Preparation of Primary Bone Macrophages from C57/Bl6 Mice

1. Euthanize mice by placing animal in ....

Results

The images that this technique produces can be analyzed in a variety of ways to collect information surrounding what happens after cells have phagocytosed C. neoformans. As seen in Figure 1, there are approximately 100 macrophages that are either infected or uninfected. Each one of these macrophages gives the viewer an opportunity to study host-pathogen interactions on a very microscopic level. As Figures 2 and 3 show, there are different outcomes that can occur.......

Discussion

Here we have described a method by which fungal-macrophage interactions can be recorded and analyzed in real time over a 24 hr period. Our lab has used this protocol to study many of the temporal aspects of non-lytic exocytosis and will continue to use real-time microscopy to ascertain the morphological components that surround this process.

For this technique to yield ideal results, special attention should be given to certain steps in the protocol. The cell density that is plated the night b.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Sabouraud Dextrose Agar	BD	DF0109-17-1
Sabouraud Dextrose Broth	BD	DF0382-17-9
Dubelcco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM)	Corning Cellgro	10-013-CV
Fetal Calf Serum (FCS)	Atlanta Biologicals	S12450
NCTC 109	Invitrogen	21340-039
Penicillin-Streptomycin	Gibco	15140-122
HEPES Buffer	Corning Cellgro	25-060-Cl
Glutamax	Invitrogen	35050-061
Non-essential Amino Acids	Corning Cellgro	25-025-Cl
2-Mercaptoethanol	Invitrogen	21985-023	Toxic
3003 Tissue Culture Petri Dishes	Fisher Scientific	08772E
CellStripper	Corning Cellgro	25-056-Cl
Mat-tek Glass Bottom Culture Dishes	MatTek	P35GC-1.5-14-C
LPS	Sigma	L3137
Mouse IFN-g	Roche	NC 9222016
mAb 18B7	Non-commerical antibody produced in our lab
Axiovert 200M Microscope with Incubating Chamber	Zeiss