Characterization and Isolation of Mouse Primary Microglia by Density Gradient Centrifugation

Summary

A protocol for the isolation of primary microglia from murine brains is presented. This technique aids in furthering the current understanding of neurological conditions. Density gradient centrifugation and magnetic separation are combined to produce sufficient yield of a highly pure sample. Furthermore, we outline the steps for characterization of microglia.

Abstract

Microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, are the first responders to inflammation or injury in the central nervous system. Recent research has revealed microglia to be dynamic, capable of assuming both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Both M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (pro-reparative) phenotypes play an important role in neuroinflammatory conditions such as perinatal brain injury, and exhibit differing functions in response to certain environmental stimuli. The modulation of microglial activation has been noted to confer neuroprotection thus suggesting microglia may have therapeutic potential in brain injury. However, more research is required to better understand the role of microglia in disease, and this protocol facilitates that. The protocol described below combines a density gradient centrifugation process to reduce cellular debris, with magnetic separation, producing a highly pure sample of primary microglial cells that can be used for in vitro experimentation, without the need for 2-3 weeks culturing. Additionally, the characterization steps yield robust functional data about microglia, aiding studies to better our understanding of the polarization and priming of these cells, which has strong implications in the field of regenerative medicine.

Introduction

Damage acquired during the perinatal period from inflammation, hypoxic-ischaemia and haemorrhage can have an array of long term sequelae. The complex pathophysiology of perinatal brain injury is theorized to involve inflammation and ischemia with ensuing neuronal and axonal death¹. The innate immune response plays an important role in the cascade of events leading to injury².

Microglia, the resident immune cells within the central nervous system (CNS), are the first responders to injury³. Microglia are plastic cell types with the capacity to be both protective or toxic,....

Protocol

The following procedures have been approved by the Animal Ethics Committee at the Monash University. Healthy untreated neonate C57Bl6/J P3-6 mice were used to generate the representative results.

1. Enzymatic Digestion

NOTE: It is important to consider sterility when isolating and culturing primary cells. Whilst ensuring the environment is as sterile as possible, the initial dissection and harvest of murine brains can be completed outside of a laminal flow hood, with all subsequent steps performed within a laminar flow hood.

1. Using sterile instruments, euthanize the mouse by cervical dislocation, decap....

Results

Using the methods outlined here, pure populations of microglia can be isolated and can be ready for characterization using in vitro and FACS analysis. To begin with, up to 18 animals can be used per cull, with an expected yield of approximately 450,000 - 600,000 microglial cells. It is crucial to first confirm the purity of the isolated cells, and to do so FACS analysis was performed by staining for the two markers CD45 and CD11b. Identification of microglia can prove troublesome.......

Discussion

Microglia have the ability to be both pro- and anti-inflammatory, altered by environment stimuli. Previous studies have shown the modulation of microglia activation can confer neuroprotection. Their ability to provide protection to neurons and repair injury necessitates more research to further the current understanding of these complex cells. Thus, isolation of high purity primary microglia is an important and useful technique. This is a relatively quick method to obtaining highly pure primary microglia ready for in.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
DMEM, low glucose, pyruvate	Gibco	11885084
Antibiotic-Antimycotic (100X)	Gibco	15240062
DNaseI grade II from bovine pancreas	Sigma-Aldrich	10104159001
Papain from papaya latex, buffered aqeuous solution	Sigma-Aldrich	P3125-100mg
Fetal Bovine Serum, qualified, heat inactivated	Gibco	16140071
Percoll	GE Healthcare	17-0891-01
Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (1X)	Gibco	14175-103
Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (10X)	Gibco	14185052
EasySep Mouse CD11b Positive Selection Kit	StemCell Technologies	18770	EasySep magnet variant
EasySep magnet	StemCell Technologies	18000
EasySep Buffer	StemCell Technologies	20144
Dulbecco's Phosphate buffered saline	Gibco	14040182
Trypsin (2.5%) (10X)	Gibco	15090-046
Purified Rat Anti-Mouse CD16/CD32 (Mouse BD Fc Block™)	BD Biosciences	553141
Falcon 5mL Round Bottom High Clarity PP Test Tube, with Snap Cap, Sterile	Corning	352063
175cm² Angled Neck Cell Culture Flask with Vent Cap	Corning	431080
Lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli O127:B8	Sigma-Aldrich	L5024
96 Well TC-Treated Microplates size 96 wells, clear, polystyrene, round bottom	Corning	CLS3799
Paraformaldehyde (powder, 95%)	Sigma-Aldrich	158127
Triton-X	Sigma-Aldrich	X100
Rabbit Anti-Iba1	Wako	01919741
Goat Anti-Rabbit IgG H&L (Alexa Fluor 488)	Abcam	ab150077
FACS Antibodies	Company	Catalog Number
V450,Rat,Anti-Mouse,CD45,30-F11,RUO	BD Biosciences	560501
PerCP-Cy5.5 CD11b	eBiosciences	45-0112-82
ZombieNIR	Biolegend	423105
pHrodo Red E. coli BioParticles Conjugate	Thermo Fisher Scientific	P35361
Annexin.V_FITC	Miltenyi Biotech	130-093-060
Propodium Iodide solution	Miltenyi Biotech	130-093-233