Imaging- and Flow Cytometry-based Analysis of Cell Position and the Cell Cycle in 3D Melanoma Spheroids

Summary

We describe two complementary methods using the fluorescence ubiquitination cell cycle indicator (FUCCI) and image analysis or flow cytometry to identify and isolate cells in the inner G1 arrested and outer proliferating regions of 3D spheroids.

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroids are utilized in cancer research as a more accurate model of the in vivo tumor microenvironment, compared to traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture. The spheroid model is able to mimic the effects of cell-cell interaction, hypoxia and nutrient deprivation, and drug penetration. One characteristic of this model is the development of a necrotic core, surrounded by a ring of G1 arrested cells, with proliferating cells on the outer layers of the spheroid. Of interest in the cancer field is how different regions of the spheroid respond to drug therapies as well as genetic or environmental manipulation. We describe here the use of the fluorescence ubiquitination cell cycle indicator (FUCCI) system along with cytometry and image analysis using commercial software to characterize the cell cycle status of cells with respect to their position inside melanoma spheroids. These methods may be used to track changes in cell cycle status, gene/protein expression or cell viability in different sub-regions of tumor spheroids over time and under different conditions.

Introduction

Multicellular 3D spheroids have been known as a tumor model for decades, however it is only recently that they have come into more common usage as an in vitro model for many solid cancers. They are increasingly being used in high-throughput drug discovery screens as an intermediate between complex, expensive and time-consuming in vivo models and the simple, low cost 2D monolayer model ^1-6. Studies in 2D culture are often unable to be replicated in vivo. Spheroid models of many types of cancer are able to mimic the growth characteristics, drug sensitivity, drug penetration, cell-cell interactions, restricted availability of oxygen ....

Protocol

1. FUCCI Transduction and Cell Culture

1. FUCCI transduction
   1. Create cell lines stably expressing the FUCCI constructs mKO2-hCdt1 (30-120) and mAG-hGem (1-100) ¹⁵ using lentivirus co-transduction as previously described ⁷.
      Note: The FUCCI system is now commercially available.
   2. Generate sub-clones with bright fluorescence by single-cell sorting. Sort single cells positive for both AG and KO (yellow) by fluorescence activated cell sorting into a 96-well plate as previously described ^7,16.
2. Melanoma cell culture
   1. Culture C8161 human melanoma cells as previously descri....

Results

There are several methods of producing tumor spheroids, this protocol uses the non-adherent growth method, where cells are cultured on agar or agarose ^3,7,9. Figure 1 shows an example of a C8161 melanoma spheroid after 3 days on agar. C8161 spheroids form regular sized spheroids with a diameter of 500 - 600 μm (mean = 565, SD = 19, n = 3) after 3 days. Other melanoma cell lines that will form spheroids include: WM793, WM983C, WM983B, WM164, 1205lu (spheroids formed with this cell line are irre.......

Discussion

Semi-automated image analysis identified the spheroid inner G1 arrested region, and proliferating outer layers. This method may be used on live spheroids using an optical section, or in fixed spheroid sections, to identify changes in not only the cell cycle but marker expression (via immunofluorescence), cell death, or cell morphology in these different regions. Cell motility within different spheroid regions may also be quantified – if live confocal time lapse imaging along with a cell tracking image analysis step.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Hoechst 33342	Life Technologies	H3570
agarose low melting point	Life Technologies	16520-050	For sectioning
noble agar	Sigma	A5431	For making spheroids
agarose for spheroids	Fisher Scientific	BP1356-100	For making spheroids
0.05% trypsin/EDTA	Life Technologies	25300-054
HBSS	Life Technologies	14175-103
10% formalin	Sigma	HT5014-1CS	CAUTION: Harmful, corrosive. Use Personal Protective Equipment, do  not breath fumes (open in a fume cupboard).
live/dead near IR	Life Technologies	L10119
vibratome	Technical Products International, Inc
coulture cup	Thermo-Fisher Scientific	SIE936	Mold for sectioning spheroids
hemocytometer	Sigma	Z359629
96-well tissue culture plate	Invitro	FAL353072
collagenase	Sigma	C5138
confocal microscope	Leica	TCS SP5
Flow cytometer analyser	Becton Dickinson	LSRFortessa
volocity	PerkinElmer		Imaging software
flowjo	Tree Star		Flow cytometry software
Vaccuum grease	Sigma	Z273554
Mounting media	Vector Laboratories	H1000
FUCCI (commercial constructs)	Life Technologies	P36238	Transient transfection only
Cell strainer 70 μm	In Vitro	FAL352350
Round bottom 5 ml tubes (sterile)	In Vitro	FAL352003
Round bottom 5 ml tubes (non-sterile)	In Vitro	FAL352008