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Method Article

Assessment of the Metabolic Profile of Primary Leukemia Cells

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DOI:

10.3791/58426

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November 21st, 2018

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1CLIP - Childhood Leukemia Investigation Prague, Second Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Charles University, Prague

In This Article

Summary

Here we present a protocol for the isolation of leukemic cells from leukemia patients bone marrow and analysis of their metabolic state. Assessment of the metabolic profile of primary leukemia cells could help to better characterize the demand of primary cells and could lead up to more personalized medicine.

Abstract

The metabolic requirement of cancer cells can negatively influence survival and treatment efficacy. Nowadays, pharmaceutical targeting of metabolic pathways is tested in many types of tumors. Thus, characterization of cancer cell metabolic setup is inevitable in order to target the correct pathway to improve the overall outcome of patients. Unfortunately, in a majority of cancers, the malignant cells are quite difficult to obtain in higher numbers and the tissue biopsy is required. Leukemia is an exception, where a sufficient number of leukemic cells can be isolated from the bone marrow. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for the isolation of leukemic cells from leukemia patients bone marrow and subsequent analysis of their metabolic state using extracellular flux analyzer. Leukemic cells are isolated by the density gradient, which does not affect their viability. The next cultivation step helps them to regenerate, thus the metabolic state measured is the state of cells in optimal conditions. This protocol allows achieving consistent, well-standardized results, which could be used for the personalized therapy.

Introduction

The metabolic profile is one of the main characteristics of cells and altered bioenergetics are now considered one of the hallmarks of cancer1,2,3. Moreover, changes in the metabolic setup could be used in the treatment of cancer by targeting signal transduction pathways or enzymatic machinery of cancer cells4,5,6. Knowing the metabolic predisposition of cancer cells is thus an advantage and can help improve the current therapy.

There are a plenty of already established methods which can assess the metabolic activity of cells in culture. Regarding glycolysis, glucose uptake can be measured by the radioactive labeling, using 2-NBDG (2-(N-(7-Nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)Amino)-2-Deoxyglucose) or extracellular lactate levels measured enzymatically7,8. Fatty acid oxidation rate is another metabolic parameter measured by isotopically labeled palmitate9,10. Oxygen consumption rate is a method widely-used for determining mitochondrial activity in cells11,12, together with the mitochondrial membrane potential evaluation13,14, ATP/ADP (adenosine 5′-triphosphate/Adenosine 5′-diphosphate) ratio measurement15 or total intracellular ATP measurement16. Signaling pathways known to regulate metabolic processes could be determined by protein quantifications and can improve the understanding of metabolic measurements17,18,19.

However, all these methods measure only one or, in the best scenario, a few metabolic parameters in one sample simultaneously. Importantly, simultaneous measurement of the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) can be achieved by the extracellular flux analysis by, for example, Seahorse XFp Analyzer. OCR is an indicator of mitochondrial respiration and ECAR is mainly the result of glycolysis (we cannot ignore CO2 production possibly elevating ECAR of cells with high oxidative phosphorylation activity)20. So far, various cell types have been studied using these analyzers21,22,23.

Here we describe the protocol for the extracellular flux analysis of primary blasts (leukemia cells derived from the immature hematopoietic stage) from leukemia patients. To the best of our knowledge, a specific protocol for primary blasts is not available yet.

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Protocol

All samples were obtained with the informed consent of the children's parents or guardians and approval of Ethical committee of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, the study no. NV15-28848A.

1. Preparation of Reagents

  1. Prepare 500 mL of PBS by dissolving 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 4.3 mM Na2HPO4, 1.47 mM KH2PO4, in ddH2O. Adjust the pH to 7.4 with HCl. Sterilize by autoclaving.
  2. Prepare 100 mL of RPMI medium: RPMI-1640 medium with L-Alanyl-Glutamine supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum (FBS), penicillin (100 U/mL) and streptomycin (100 μg/mL).
  3. Prepare 50 mL of 0.1 M NaHCO3 in distilled water. Adjust the pH to 8.1, filter sterilize (0.22 μm) and store at 4 °C.
    NOTE: For two 8-well extracellular flux analyzer plates, prepare 250 μL of 0.1 M NaHCO3 pH 8.1.
  4. Prepare 1 mL of 2 M D-glucose in distilled water. Filter sterilize (0.22 μm) and store at -20 °C.
  5. Prepare 100 μL of 1 mM Oligomycin A in ethanol. Filter sterilize (0.22 μm) and store at -20 °C.
  6. Prepare 250 μL of 1 M 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in Minimal DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium). Warm to 37 °C and adjust the pH to 7.4 (carry out pH measurement at 37 °C). Filter sterilize (0.22 μm) and store at -20 °C.
  7. Prepare 100 μL of 1 mM FCCP (carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone) in DMSO. Filter sterilize (0.22 μm) and store at -20 °C.
  8. Prepare 100 μL of 1 mM Rotenone in ethanol. Filter sterilize (0.22 μm) and store at -20 °C.
  9. Prepare 100 μL of 1 mg/mL Antimycin A in ethanol. Filter sterilize (0.22 μm) and store at -20 °C.
  10. Just before the use, prepare 10 mL of Glycolysis stress test medium. Warm Minimal DMEM to 37 °C in a water bath and adjust the pH to 7.4 (carry out pH measurement at 37 °C).
  11. Prior to the use, prepare 10 mL of Cell Mito stress test medium with BSA. Supplement Minimal DMEM with 2 mM L-glutamine, 10 mM D-glucose, 1 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 1 mM pyruvate and 0.1 % BSA (bovine serum albumin). Warm to 37 °C in a water bath and adjust the pH to 7.4 (carry out pH measurement at 37 °C).
  12. Prior to the use, prepare 10 mL of Cell Mito stress test medium without BSA. Supplement Minimal DMEM with 2 mM L-glutamine, 10 mM D-glucose,1 mM HEPES (pH 7.4) and 1 mM pyruvate. Warm Cell Mito stress test medium without BSA to 37 °C in a water bath and adjust the pH to 7.4 (carry out pH measurement at 37 °C).
    NOTE: BSA is added to the Cell Mito stress test medium because the cells respond better to FCCP when the medium is supplemented with BSA (different conditions were tested). Cell Mito stress test medium without BSA is used for loading the ports as the manufacturer does not recommend using BSA in the medium.

2. Isolation of Mononuclear Cells from Bone Marrow

NOTE: Ideally, measurement of metabolic state of primary leukemia cells should start immediately after bone marrow collection and cell isolation. Nevertheless, relevant data could be also obtained from cells isolated after transportation from other hematology centers in the Czech Republic. Perform all sub-steps in a sterile tissue culture hood.

  1. Warm up PBS and the density gradient medium to room temperature.
  2. Dilute the bone marrow sample of leukemia patient with PBS, in a ratio of 1:1. Make sure that the sample contains at least 80% of leukemic blasts.
  3. Determine the percentage of blasts by flow cytometry using specific CD markers for immunophenotype characterization of cell types. After density gradient separation, detect nucleic acid positive events with a nuclear dye in order to establish the overall cell count.
  4. Then, determine leukemia cells using specific CD markers for each type of leukemia: B-ALL (CD19, CD45), T-ALL (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD5, CD7, CD99) and AML (CD45, CD33, and specific myeloid markers)24. Divide the number of leukemia cells positive for specific CD markers by all nuclear cells to determine the percentage of leukemia blast cells.
    NOTE: The bone marrow has to be collected into the tubes with anticoagulants.
  5. Carefully layer 6 mL of diluted bone marrow sample over 6 mL of the density gradient medium in a 15 mL conical tube. Centrifuge at 400 x g for 35 min at 4 °C in a swinging-bucket rotor without the brake.
    NOTE: Larger volume of the sample could be divided into more aliquots or 50 mL conical tube can be used with the larger amount of density gradient medium.
  6. Using a Pasteur pipette, carefully transfer the interphase layer which consists of mononuclear cells (Figure 1) to a new 50 mL conical tube with 5 mL of PBS. Centrifuge at 400 × g for 10 min at 4 °C in a swinging-bucket rotor.
    NOTE: Transfer all mononuclear cell layers into a single 50 mL conical tube with 5 mL of PBS.
  7. Aspirate the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet in 2 mL of sterile PBS. Count the cells using a hemocytometer.
    NOTE: The number of leukemia cells in one mL of aspirated bone marrow differs significantly among patients25.

3. Overnight Cultivation of Mononuclear Cells

NOTE: Perform all sub-steps in a sterile tissue culture hood.

  1. Prepare two T75 flasks with 20 mL of RPMI. To each flask, add 30 x 106 isolated mononuclear cells. Incubate the cells with the flask standing up for 16–24 h at 5% CO2 and 37 °C.

4. Preparation of Cell Adhesive-coated Plates

  1. Coat two 8-well extracellular flux analyzer plates.
    NOTE: Perform the coating in a sterile tissue culture hood.
  2. Add 2.2 μL of cell adhesive(density: 2.54 mg/ml) to 250 μL of 0.1 M NaHCO3, pH 8.1, and pipette immediately 12.5 μL of the solution into each well.
    NOTE: Cell adhesive stock solutions can differ in their density, adjust the volume added to NaHCO3 accordingly.
  3. Let the plates sit in the hood for about 20 min, then aspirate the cell adhesive and wash each well twice using 200 μL of sterile water. Let it sit in the hood with the lid open until wells are dry.
  4. Use the plates right away or save up to 1 week at 4 °C with the rim wrapped in paraffin film to avoid condensation. Ensure that the plates are warmed up to room temperature (for about 20 min) in the hood before seeding the cells.

5. Hydration of Sensor Cartridge

NOTE: Hydrate two 8-well extracellular flux analyzer cartridges.

  1. Separate the utility plate and the sensor cartridge. Place the sensor cartridge upside down on the lab bench.
  2. Fill each well of the utility plate with 200 μL calibrant. Fill each moat around the outside of the wells with 400 μL of calibrant.
  3. Return the sensor cartridge to the utility plate that now contains the calibrant.
  4. Place the cartridge assembly in a humidified, non-CO2, 37 °C incubator overnight.
  5. Turn on the extracellular flux analyzer and let it warm to 37 °C overnight.

6. Seeding Cells in Cell Adhesive-coated Plates

NOTE: For Glycolysis stress test, use Glycolysis stress test medium. For Cell Mito stress test, use Cell Mito stress test medium with BSA.

  1. Seed cells for the Glycolysis stress test and the Cell Mito stress test in separate plates. For each test, use cells from one flask with overnight culture.
  2. Centrifuge cells at 200 x g for 5 min at room temperature. Resuspend cells in 1 mL of the appropriate medium and count them.
  3. Add 4 x 106 of live cells to the final volume of 400 μL (use appropriate medium).
  4. Plate 50 μL of the cell suspension into wells B-G. Ensure 500,000 cells are seeded in one well.
    NOTE: It is crucial to seed exactly 500,000 cells per well as no other normalization is performed. That way, the results from different patients can be compared. The optimal number of replicates is six, as is described here. Using less replicates is not recommended since primary cells could sometimes behave erroneously.
  5. Add 180 μL of the appropriate medium into wells A and H (these wells will serve as a background correction).
  6. Centrifuge the plate at 400 x g for 5 min at room temperature with brake set to 1.
  7. Add 130 μL of appropriate medium to wells B-G in two 8-well extracellular flux analyzer plates slowly and carefully. Visually confirm that the cells are stably adhered to the bottom of the wells by viewing under the microscope.
  8. Place the plate into a humidified, non-CO2, 37 °C incubator for 30 min.

7. Loading the Sensor Cartridge

  1. For the Glycolysis stress test, prepare 250 μL each of 100 mM glucose, 20 μM Oligomycin A and 1 M 2-DG, all in Glycolysis stress test medium.
  2. For the Cell Mito stress test, prepare 250 μL each of 20 μM Oligomycin A, 15 μM FCCP, 30 μM FCCP and a mixture of 10 μM Rotenone and 10 μg/ml Antimycin A, all in Cell Mito stress test medium without BSA.
    NOTE: Injecting two concentrations of FCCP in one assay is recommended since there is not enough patients' material for the FCCP titration. Nevertheless, the concentrations should be determined by the researcher.
  3. Load the compounds into the appropriate injector ports of the cartridge as follows (Table 1):

8. Setting Up the Program

  1. For the Glycolysis stress test, set up the program as described in Table 2.
  2. For the Cell Mito stress test, set up the program as described in Table 3.
  3. Start the program. Replace the calibrant plate with the assay plate (when prompted).

9. Evaluation and Interpretation of the Results

  1. In the Glycolysis stress test results, subtract the lowest ECAR value after 2-DG injection from all other ECAR values.
    NOTE: This lowest value represents the non-glycolytic acidification. Usually, the lowest value is from the 4th measurement.
  2. Calculate Basal acidification, Glycolysis, Maximal glycolysis and Glycolytic reserve parameters from glycolytic function (Figure 2A). After subtracting the lowest ECAR value, calculate Basal acidification as a mean of ECAR from the first three measurement points (omit the first ECAR value if it significantly differs from the other two), calculate Glycolysis as a mean of ECAR from three measurement points after glucose injection and calculate Maximal glycolysis as a mean of ECAR from three measurement points after Oligomycin A injection. Calculate Glycolytic reserve as Maximal glycolysis minus Glycolysis.
    NOTE: Alternatively, for Maximal glycolysis calculation, use the highest ECAR value from the three points measured.
  3. In the Cell Mito stress test results, subtract the lowest OCR value after Rotenone/Antimycin A injection from all other OCR values.
  4. Calculate Basal respiration, ATP production, Maximal respiration and Spare capacity parameters from mitochondrial function (Figure 2B). After subtracting the lowest OCR value, calculate Basal respiration as a mean of OCR from the first three measurement points.
    NOTE: Maximal respiration is the highest OCR value after FCCP injection.
  5. For ATP production calculation, subtract the mean of the three OCR measurement points after Oligomycin A injection from Basal respiration. Calculate Spare capacity as the Maximal respiration minus the Basal respiration.
    NOTE: Always calculate the Maximal respiration from the highest OCR value, regardless of the FCCP concentration used.

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Results

Figure 3 shows the curves after Glycolysis stress test and Cell Mito stress test measurements of leukemic blasts from the BCP-ALL (B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia) and AML (acute myeloid leukemia) patients. The calculation of metabolic parameters from these measurements is also indicated. 500,000 cells per well were seeded and all measurements were done in hexaplicates.

In the Glycolys...

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Discussion

The above-described protocol allows for the measurement of the metabolic activity assessed by OCR and ECAR values in primary leukemic blasts derived from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The advantage of measurement using an extracellular flux analyzer is that it enables the detection of metabolic profile in the real time in the live cells. Essentially, every step in the provided protocol could be adjusted depending on the cell type one plans to study. Here, we will discus...

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Disclosures

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Czech Pediatric Hematology Centers. This work was supported by the Grant of Ministry of Health (NV15-28848A), by Ministry of Health of Czech Republic, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic 00064203 and by Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports NPU I nr.LO1604.

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Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
RPMI 1640 Medium, GlutaMAX SupplementGibco, ThermoFisher Scientific61870-010
Fetal Bovine SerumBioseraFB-1001/100
Antibiotic-Antimycotic (100x)Gibco, ThermoFisher Scientific15240-062
Sodium bicarbonateSigma-AldrichS5761-500G
D-(+) GlucoseSigma-AldrichG7021-100G
Oligomycin ASigma-Aldrich75351-5MG
2-Deoxy-D-glucoseSigma-AldrichD8375-1G
FCCPSigma-AldrichC2920-10MG
DMSOSigma-AldrichD8418-100ML
RotenoneSigma-AldrichR8875-1G
Antimycin A from Streptomyces sp.Sigma-AldrichA8674-25MG
Seahorse XF Base Medium, 100 mLAgilent Technologies103193-100
L-glutamine solution, 200 mMSigma-AldrichG7513-100ML
HEPES solution, 1 M, pH 7.0-7.6Sigma-AldrichH0887-100ML
Sodium pyruvateSigma-AldrichP5280-25G
Bovine Serum AlbuminSigma-AldrichA2153-10G
Ficoll-Paque PlusSigma-AldrichGE17-1440-02Density gradient medium
Seahorse XFp FluxPakAgilent Technologies103022-100
Corning™ Cell-Tak Cell and Tissue AdhesiveThermoFisher ScientificCB40240
Seahorse Analyzer XFpAgilent TechnologiesS7802A
Seahorse XFp Cell Culture MiniplateAgilent Technologies103025-100

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Metabolic Profile AnalysisBone Marrow IsolationDensity Gradient CentrifugationExtracellular Flux AnalyzerGlycolysis Stress TestMitochondrial Stress TestOxygen Consumption RateExtracellular Acidification RateCell Cultivation Protocol
Assessment of the Metabolic Profile of Primary Leukemia Cells
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