We present a protocol to isolate primary adult fibroblasts in an easy, fast and reliable way, performable by beginners (e.g., students). The procedure combines enzymatic tissue digestion and mechanical agitation with ultrasonic waves to obtain primary fibroblasts. The protocol can easily be adapted to specific experimental requirements (e.g., human tissue).
Primary adult fibroblasts have become an important tool to study fibrosis, fibroblast interactions and inflammation in all body tissues. Since primary fibroblasts cannot divide indefinitely due to myofibroblast differentiation or senescence induction, new cultures must be established regularly. However, there are several obstacles to overcome during the processes of developing a reliable isolation protocol and primary fibroblast isolation itself: the method’s degree of difficulty (especially for beginners), the risk of bacterial contamination, the required time until primary fibroblasts can be used for experiments, and subsequent cell quality and viability. In this study, a fast, reliable and easy-to-learn protocol to isolate and culture primary adult fibroblasts from mouse heart, lung, liver and kidney combining enzymatic digestion and ultrasonic agitation is provided.
Fibroblasts are flat, spindle-shaped cells with multiple stellate processes and an extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum1,2. An average fibroblast measures 30 - 100 µm and has a life span of 57 ± 3 days1,3. The average cell cycle duration of human fibroblasts ranges from 16 - 48 h depending on the culture conditions4. There is evidence that the replicative capacity and functional quality of cultured primary fibroblasts negatively correlates with the donor age, suggesting that younger donors (animals or patients) should be preferred if possible5,6.
Fibroblasts constitute a predominant cell type of most mammalian body tissues. Despite their ubiquitous presence, the molecular identification of fibroblasts is still a challenge7. Fibroblasts migrate to developing tissues and organs from different sources during embryonic development8. For this reason, there is a plethora of marker proteins that can be found in fibroblasts whereas unique marker proteins, which are present in every fibroblast population and exclusive for fibroblasts, are still missing. Thus, expression patterns of several recognized markers are usually used to identify fibroblasts. Among the most recognized markers are vimentin, human fibroblast surface protein (hFSP), discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) and alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA).
Fibroblasts are the major extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing cell type. Thereby, fibroblasts maintain an orderly tissue architecture and provide mechanical support for neighboring cells1. The balance between ECM synthesis and degradation is a well-regulated process. Shifts towards synthesis mark the beginning of excessive ECM deposition which, if not terminated, leads to fibrosis. Fibrosis is mediated by myofibroblasts, which originate from activated fibroblasts undergoing molecular and phenotypical changes. One hallmark of myofibroblasts is enhanced secretion of ECM and cytokines and the expression of orderly arranged αSMA microfilaments9.
Primary fibroblasts have been in the spotlight of recent research focusing on fibrosis, tissue inflammation and fibroblast-cancer-cell interactions10,11. However, to effectively study fibroblast properties in health and disease, it is necessary to isolate viable primary adult fibroblasts on a regular basis. There are several methods available to isolate fibroblasts12,13,14. The three major methods of fibroblast isolation are outgrowth from tissue chunks12, enzymatic tissue digestion15, and enzymatic perfusion of hollow organs9,13,16. The advantage of outgrowth is a gentle isolation process without enzymatic cell degradation. On the other hand, outgrowth cultures usually require prolonged culture periods until cells can be used for experiments. Common enzymatic digestion is fast but bears a risk of contamination with other cell types (e.g., endothelial cells) or bacteria in the agitation process, which is necessary to mechanically dissolve the tissue. Furthermore, these methods are often elaborate and require time and skill to learn.
Regarding the importance of primary fibroblasts in research, there is still a need to optimize existing cell isolation approaches in terms of quickness, simplicity and reliability. Here, a novel ultrasonic-based enzymatic fibroblast isolation method delivering high quality cells is provided.
The following protocol follows the institutional animal care guidelines of Technische Universität Dresden, Germany (File number: T 2014/4) as well as internationally accepted animal care guidelines (FELASA)17. Figure 1 visualizes the cell isolation process.
1. Preparing the setup, material and media
2. Mouse dissection and organ removal
3. Tissue mincing, digestion and cell extraction
The ability of this protocol to isolate adult fibroblasts from solid murine tissue was demonstrated. Viable fibroblasts were obtained that could be used for subsequent experiments such as immunofluorescence staining or proliferation experiments (Figure 2D-F, Figure 5A).
Adult fibroblasts are flat spindle-shaped cells with multiple cellular processes that typically grow in monolayers12,18. The obtained results reflect these morphological hallmarks and indicate distinct morphological differences in fibroblast populations from different organs (Figure 2). Renal fibroblasts were especially smaller and grew at higher densities than cardiac, pulmonary or hepatic fibroblasts (Figure 2).
The upper panel of Figure 3 depicts the process of cell maturation and proliferation via the example of cardiac fibroblasts following the isolation. The cells displayed high proliferation rates reaching optical confluence of >90% after 6 ± 1 days. At this level of confluence fibroblasts stop to proliferate18 and the cells can be split, using 0.25% trypsin, and transferred to larger cell culture flasks for subsequent culture or experiments.
Under basal cell culture conditions, fibroblast cultures consist of fibroblasts and a smaller proportion of myofibroblasts19,20. There are several accepted markers to identify fibroblasts. DDR2 and vimentin expression are common fibroblast markers and the expression of organized αSMA microfilaments indicates myofibroblast differentiation7,9. A representative image of a differentiated myofibroblast with distinctive αSMA microfilaments and representative overview images for αSMA filament abundance in heart, kidney, liver and lung are presented in Figure 4. While only about 20 – 30% of the isolated and subsequently cultured cells expressed orderly arranged αSMA microfilaments (indicating myofibroblast differentiation), all of the cells (≈ 99%) were positive for vimentin and DDR2 (Figure 3, lower panel).
Figure 1. Overview of the fibroblast isolation procedure. After the organs of interest have been removed from the mouse, they are minced under a cell culture hood using sterile scalpels. Subsequently, the minced tissue is transferred to 0.25% trypsin solution for 5 min. After the first digestion, collagenase blend solution is added and the tubes are transferred to an ultrasonic bath for 20 min at 37 °C. After filtration and centrifugation, the cell pellet can be transferred into a suitable cell culture dish. After at least 8 h to attach, the cultures are washed three times with PBS to remove erythrocytes and debris. Finally, fresh medium (DMEM, 15% FCS, 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin) is added and the cells can be cultured. Images of Servier smart medical art have been used to create the figure (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2. Primary murine fibroblasts isolated from solid organs after 7 days of primary culture. A) Cardiac fibroblasts. B) Pulmonary fibroblasts. C) Renal fibroblasts. D) Hepatic fibroblasts. The cells were cultured in DMEM (15% FCS, 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin (PS)) at 37 °C and 5% CO2. 10x magnification and 5.6x optical camera zoom were used to obtain these images. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3. Identification of fibroblasts in culture. A – C) Attachment and growth of cardiac fibroblasts for 4 days. After washing and medium change the attached fibroblasts develop their distinctive shape and proliferate. The cells were cultured in DMEM (15% FCS, 1% PS). D - F) Immunofluorescence staining images of primary fibroblasts after 7 days of culture for fibroblast markers αSMA (D), DDR2 (E) and Vimentin (F). The nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Primary antibodies (Sigma-Aldrich) were diluted 1:200 in 1% BSA solution (αSMA: A5228; DDR2: HPA070112; Vimentin: V5255). Alexa-Fluor 488 was used as secondary antibody. The scale bars equal the indicated lengths above. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 4. Representative immunocytochemical images for αSMA microfilament abundance. A) A typical myofibroblast is displayed (magnification: 20x). B – E) Representative αSMA overview images for heart (B), kidney (C), liver (D) and lung (E) (magnification: 10x). The white circles indicate representative cells which were considered myofibroblasts. The nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). The primary antibody was diluted 1:200 in 1% BSA solution (αSMA: A5228). Alexa-Fluor 488 was used as secondary antibody. The scale bars equal the indicated lengths above. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 5. Proliferation rates of murine fibroblasts and in vitro senescence development. A) Proliferation rate of murine fibroblasts determined after 7 and 14 days of culture. Cells were harvested and counted with a Buerker chamber at the respective time points. The results represent the cell count in 1 mL of medium. B) Senescence is determined by the presence of β-galactosidase (stained green). Senescent cells are indicated with white circles. The scale bar equals 50 µm. Results are presented as mean ± SEM. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Compared to immortalized fibroblast cell lines, primary fibroblasts offer several advantages. They can be isolated cost effectively in high quality and quantity. Furthermore, primary cultures offer the possibility to study cells from multiple individuals, which increases the reliability of the obtained results and decreases the likelihood of merely studying cell culture artifacts. Continuous generation of new primary cultures prevents genetic alterations which commonly occur after repeated passaging21. Additionally, cellular senescence22,23 or increased myofibroblast differentiation occur more frequently in cultures at high passages20. At low passages (2-3), the basal myofibroblast count was approximately 20 – 30% (data not shown) and only 2.89% of the cells were considered senescent based on β-galactosidase expression (Figure 5B). For this reason, it is recommended to passage the cultures up to maximal 5 times and to replace them hereafter. This guarantees reliable and replicable results throughout the experiments. Optimal fibroblast growth and proliferation were obtained with cell culture medium containing 15% FCS instead of 10%. This ensured a robust fibroblast yield and good cell viability after the first passage.
This protocol complements existing techniques in terms of speed and degree of difficulty. Outgrowth techniques require between 10 - 21 days, depending on the species and tissue, until sufficient quantities of fibroblasts can be harvested12,24. Langendorff-perfusion on the other hand is fast (<5 h) but requires more manual skill and training. Compared to outgrowth methods12,24 or fibroblast isolation from the supernatant of Langendorff-perfusion16, this protocol offers especially beginners the opportunity to work with primary cells after a very short training period (2 - 3 isolations) without the requirement of high mechanical skill or technical effort. Contamination with non-fibroblast cells (e.g., endothelial cells) was negligible because cultured fibroblasts rapidly overgrow other cell types in cultures due to their higher proliferation rates25. Additionally, this protocol gives clear instructions that help to avoid bacterial contamination, which is one major problem working with primary murine cells. Here, two critical steps to avoid contamination were identified. The first one is the organ removal. Rodent fur bacteria can be easily transferred to the organs if the gloves and surgical instruments are not changed after removing the fur and the skin. The second critical step is the isolation process itself. The cells have to be removed mechanically from their tissue niche. In the context of Langendorff-perfusion this is realized by a continuous current of liquid. Other techniques use magnetic stirring bars or shaking methods. Particularly, the replacement of magnetic stirring bars by ultrasonic waves reduces the risk of bacterial contamination by avoiding physical contact between the stirrer and the tissue lysate. An additional advantage of the ultrasonic water bath is the even distribution of warmth to the tubes, thereby providing optimal working temperatures for the enzymes.
In conclusion, this protocol provides a quick, reliable and replicable method to isolate primary fibroblasts that is ideal for both advanced and early-stage researchers. This method is a useful addition to the existing spectrum of techniques that can contribute to a better understanding of fibroblast function in health and disease.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
We thank Ms. Romy Kempe and Mrs. Annett Opitz for expert technical support. We also thank Mr. Bjoern Binnewerg for IT support. This work was supported by grants from a) the Förderkreis Dresdner Herz-Kreislauf-Tage e.V., b) "Habilitationsförderprogramm für Frauen", Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus Dresden and c) Else Kröner-Forschungskolleg (EKFK) Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus Dresden. We are grateful for the funding and the support.
0.25% Trypsin-EDTA | Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA | T4049-100ML | |
Antibiotics | Gibco-Life Technologies, Carlsbad, USA | Gibco LS15140148 | Penicillin/ Streptomycin (10000 U/ml) |
Cell culture hood | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA | 51023608 | HeraSafe KSP15 |
Cell culture incubator | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA | 50049176 | BBD 6220 |
Cell culture plates | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA | depends on vessel | 6-, 12-, 24-wells Nunclon surface |
Cell culture suction | VACUUBRAND GMBH + CO KG, Wertheim, Germany | 20727400 | BVC professional suction |
Cell strainer (mesh) | Corning, Tewksbury, USA | 431750 | 40 µm Nylon |
Centrifuge | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA | 75007213 | Megafuge 8R |
Cordless pipetting controller | Hirschmann, Eberstadt, Germany | 9907200 | Pipetus |
Disposable pipette tips | Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA | depends on volume | SafeSeal tips for pipettes (10 µl, 20 µl, 100 µl, 200 µl, 1000 µl) |
Disposable plastic pipettes | Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA | depends on volume | 5 ml, 10 ml, 25 ml, 50 ml |
Disposable sterile scalpel | Myco Medical, Cary, USA | n.a. | Techno cut |
Dulbeccos Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA | 41965-062 | High glucose |
Eppendorf tubes | Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany | depends on volume | 50 µl, 500 µl, 1.500µl, 2.000 µl |
Fetal calf serum (FCS) | Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA | F2442-50ML | |
Collagenase blend | Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA | 5401020001 | Liberase TL Research Grade |
Petri dish 6 cm | Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA | P5481-500EA | |
Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) | Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA | D8537-500ML | 500 ml |
Senescence detection kit | Abcam, Cambridge, UK | ab65351 | |
Shaker/ Vortex | IKA, Staufen im Breisgau, Germany | n.a. | MS2 Minishaker (subsequent model: Ident-Nr.: 0020016017) |
Sterile plastic tubes | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA | Falcon 352095 | BD Falcon tubes (15 ml, 50 ml) |
Ultrasonic water bath | BANDELIN electronic GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin, Germany | 312 | Sonorex RK100H |
Surgical scissors (atraumatic) | Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen, Germany | NR 82 | |
Surgical scissors | Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen, Germany | eq 1060.09 | |
Surgical forceps | Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen, Germany | BD577 |