Isolation and Culture of Human Adipose-derived Stem Cells from Subcutaneous and Visceral White Adipose Tissue Compartments

Materials and Reagents

1. 15 ml centrifugation tube (Corning, Falcon^®, catalog number: 352099 )
   
2. 50 ml centrifugation tube (Corning, Falcon^®, catalog number: 352070 )
   
3. 10 cm cell culture dish (Greiner Bio One, CellStar^®, catalog number: 664160 )
   
4. 0.2 μm 25 mm syringe filter (Pall, Acrodisc^®, catalog number: 4612 )
   
5. 30 ml syringe (BD, Luer-Lok^TM, catalog number: 302832 )
   
6. 5 ml polystyrene fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) tubes (Corning, Falcon^®, catalog number: 352054 )
   
7. 100 μm nylon mesh cell strainer (Corning, Falcon^®, catalog number: 352360 )
   
8. 6-well-plates (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thermo Scientific^TM, catalog number: 140675 )
   
9. Human WAT from patients
   
10. OXOID^TM Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) tablets (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thermo Scientific^TM, catalog number: BR0014G )
    
11. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: D2650 )
    
12. Fetal bovine serum (FBS), heat inactivated (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Gibco^TM, catalog number: 16140071 )
    
13. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: A7906 )
    
14. Antibodies (see Table 1)
    
15. Isopropanol (EMD Millipore, catalog number: 109634 )
    
16. Collagenase type IA (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: C9891-1G )
    
17. Ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: A0171 )
    Note: This product has been discontinued.
    
18. Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO₃) (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: P7682 )
    Note: This product has been discontinued.
    
19. 0.25% trypsin-EDTA (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Gibco^TM, catalog number: 25200056 )
    
20. Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium: nutrient mixture F-12 (DMEM/F-12) (1:1) (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Gibco^TM, catalog number: 11330032 )
    
21. Penicillin-streptomycin (P/S) (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Gibco^TM, catalog number: 15140122 )
    
22. Dexamethasone (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: D4902 )
    
23. 10 mg/ml insulin solution from bovine pancreas (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: I0516 )
    
24. 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: I5879 )
    
25. Indomethacin (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: 17378 )
    
26. 100% ethanol (EMD Millipore, catalog number: 100983 )
    
    Table 1. Antibody information

    Antigen		Antibody	Manufacturer	Dilution	Host/Isotype
    CD34	hematopoietic cells	Anti-Human CD34 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-0349	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD31	Endothelial cells	Anti-Human CD31 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-0319	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD14	(Macrophages) hematopoietic cells	Anti-Human CD14 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-0149	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD11b	(Leukocytes) Monocytes	Anti-Human CD11b APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-0113	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD45	(Nucleated cells of hematopoietic origin) lymphocytes	Anti-Human CD45 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-9459	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD106	(Activated) endothelial cells	Anti-Human CD106 PE	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 12-1069	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD90	MSCs	Anti-Human CD90 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-0909	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD44	MSCs	Anti-Human CD44 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-0441	1:100	Rat IgG2b, kappa
    CD29	MSCs	Anti-Human CD29 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-0299	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD73	MSCs	Anti-Human CD73 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-0739	1:100	Mouse IgG1, kappa
    CD105	MSCs	Anti-Human CD105 APC	Affymetrix, eBioscience, catalog number: 17-1057	1:100	Mouse IgG1

    
    
27.  Paraformaldehyde (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: P6148 )
    
28. Oil Red O powder (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: O0625 )
    
29. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (Sigma-Aldrich, catalog number: 221465 )
    
30. Collagenase solution (1 mg/ml) (see Recipes)
    
31. Red blood cell (RBC) lysis buffer (10x) (see Recipes)
    
32. Proliferation medium (see Recipes)
    
33. Differentiation medium (see Recipes)
    
34. Induction medium (see Recipes)
    
35. Insulin medium (see Recipes)
    
36. 10 mM dexamethasone stock solution (see Recipes)
    
37. 1 mM dexamethasone working solution (see Recipes)
    
38. 0.5 M IBMX stock solution (1,000x) (see Recipes)
    
39. 200 mM indomethacin stock solution (1,600x) (see Recipes)
    
40. 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) (pH = 7.4) (see Recipes)
    
41. Oil Red O working solution (see Recipes)

Equipment

1. Cryogenic vials (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thermo Scientific^TM, catalog number: 366656 )
   
2. Laminar flow tissue culture hood
   
3. Sterilized surgical tools including forceps and scalpel or scissors
   
4. Mr. Frosty^TM freezing container (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thermo Scientific^TM, catalog number: 5100-0001 )
   
5. Locator 6 Plus Rack and Box Systems, liquid nitrogen Dewar (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thermo Scientific^TM, catalog number: CY50985-70 )
   
6. BD FACSCanto II flow cytometer (BD, model: BD FACSCanto II ) or similar equipment
   
7. Analytical balance (Sartorius, model: CPA124S )
   
8. MaxQ^TM 37 °C orbital shaker (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thermo Scientific^TM, model: 4450 )
   
9. Centrifuge with swinging bucket rotor (KUBOTA, model: 2800 )
   
10. Automated cell counter (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Countess^®, catalog number: AMQAF1000 )
    

Software

1. FACSDiva software (BD)

Procedure

1. Cell isolation
   1. Collect 0.2-1.0 g of human WAT from patients
      Note: We have utilized this protocol to isolate ASCs from superficial subcutaneous WAT isolated from morbidly obese individuals who underwent either gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgical procedures, as previously described (Leow et al., 2016). However, in unpublished studies from our lab we have also utilized this protocol to successfully isolate ASCs from deep subcutaneous, omental and mesenteric WAT from lean patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal and ventral hernia surgery.
      
   2. Transfer human WAT biopsy into pre-weighed 50 ml tube with PBS.
      Note: A maximum of 1 g of WAT should be digested in one 50 ml centrifugation tube.
      
   3. Calculate WAT tissue weight.
      

   Note: For the following steps work in a laminar flow tissue culture hood.

   4. Transfer tissue into a 10 cm cell culture dish and mince the tissue into small pieces with sterilized scalpel or scissors.
      Note: For better tissue digestion, WAT should be minced thoroughly.
      
   5. Transfer the minced tissue into 50 ml tube. Add 3 ml collagenase solution/1 g of tissue. For tissue less than 0.3 g, use 1 ml of collagenase solution.
      Note: Collagenase solution should be prepared freshly with pre-warmed PBS (from 37 °C water bath).
      
   6. Digest the tissue in 37 °C incubator with shaking (120 rpm) for 1.5 h.
      Note: No chunks of WAT should be visible after digestion. If chunks of WAT are still visible then digestion time can be extended accordingly.
      
   7. Inactivate collagenase by adding 35 ml of proliferation medium into the 50 ml tube.
      
   8. Immediately centrifuge at 800 x g for 10 min at room temperature.
      
   9. After centrifugation the cell pellet should be visible at the bottom of the 50 ml tube.
      
   10. Carefully aspirate the supernatant (including fat layer) and re-suspend the cell pellet in RBC lysis buffer. For 1 ml of pellet, add 9 ml of RBC lysis buffer (1:9, v:v).
       
   11. Incubate for 10 min at room temperature.
       
   12. Immediately centrifuge at 800 x g for 10 min at room temperature.
       
   13. Re-suspend the cell pellet in 20 ml proliferation medium by pipetting up and down.
       
   14. Filter the cell suspension through a 100 μm nylon mesh cell strainer into a new 50 ml tube to remove debris.
       
   15. Immediately centrifuge at 800 x g for 10 min at room temperature.
       
   16. Carefully aspirate the supernatant and re-suspend the cell pellet containing ASCs in 10 ml proliferation medium.
       
   17. Transfer the cell suspension onto a cell culture treated 10 cm plate and incubate at 37 °C/5% CO₂ for 24 h.
       
   18. After 24 h cell culturing, non-adherent cells are removed and adherent cells are washed with PBS. Adherent cells (ASCs) are cultured in fresh proliferation medium until 70% confluence.
       
   19. Passage ASCs 1-2 times to expand cell population. A representative image of growing ASCs is shown in Figure 1A. After several days of culture human ASCs show a typical fibroblastic-like morphology (Figure 1A).
       
   20. ASCs can then be either utilized for relevant in vitro investigations or cryopreserved. To cryopreserve ASCs, trypsinize and count 0.5-1 million cells and centrifuge at 800 x g for 10 min at room temperature. Aspirate the supernatant and re-suspend the cell pellet in 1 ml of pre-chilled (4 °C) proliferation medium containing 5% DMSO in cryogenic vials. Store vials in Mr. Frosty^TM freezing container filled with isopropanol at -80 °C overnight, before transferring to a liquid nitrogen Dewar for long-term storage.
       
       
       Figure 1. Human ASCs and ASCs-derived mature adipocytes. A. Representative phase contrast image of proliferating human ASCs cultures isolated from superficial subcutaneous WAT (Scale bar = 100 μm). B. Representative phase contrast image of human ASCs-derived mature adipocytes (Scale bar = 200 μm). C. Representative phase contrast image of Oil Red O stained lipid droplets within ASCs-derived mature adipocytes (Scale bar = 200 μm). D. Representative high magnification phase contrast image of Oil Red O stained lipid droplets within ASCs-derived mature adipocytes (Scale bar = 50 μm).
       
       
2. Cell surface markers staining and flow cytometry
   
   1. Trypsinize ASCs and count cell number.
      
   2. Collect ~0.2 million cells in each 5 ml FACS tube.
      
   3. Immediately centrifuge at 200 x g for 5 min at 4 °C and aspirate the supernatant.
      
   4. Wash the cell pellet with 3 ml PBS twice.
      
   5. Add 2 ml of ice-cold 4% PFA to each cell pellet and re-suspend the cell pellet by vortexing gently.
      
   6. Incubate at 4 °C for 30 min or keep the fixed cells at 4 °C for subsequent immunofluorescent staining (up to 6 months).
      
   7. Wash the fixed cells with 3 ml of PBS twice.
      
   8. Re-suspend the cell pellet with 1 ml of 15% FBS in PBS and incubate for 20 min for blocking.
      
   9. Immediately centrifuge at 200 x g for 5 min and aspirate the supernatant.
      
   10. Re-suspend the cell pellet with 50 μl of primary antibody diluted in ice-cold 15% FBS in PBS (For antibody information please see Table 1).
       
   11. Incubate on ice for 45 min.
       
       
       Figure 2. Surface marker expression profile analysis of human ASCs by flow cytometry. Isolated human ASCs (from superficial subcutaneous WAT) were analyzed for MSC markers (CD90, CD44, CD29, CD73 and CD105), hematopoietic lineage markers (CD34, CD14, CD11b, and CD45) and endothelial markers (CD31 and CD106) by flow cytometry. Histograms show results of staining of ASCs for indicated surface markers from one representative experiment. Cell counts are indicated on the y-axis and fluorescence intensity on the x-axis. Gate P2 was set according to staining with appropriate isotype-matched antibody controls. The percentages of ASCs stained positively are indicated in each panel.
       
       
   12. Add 5 ml of ice-cold 0.5% BSA in PBS.
       
   13. Immediately centrifuge at 200 x g for 5 min at 4 °C and aspirate the supernatant.
       
   14. Re-suspend the cell pellet with 200 μl of ice-cold 0.5% BSA in PBS.
       
   15. Analyze samples using the BD FACSCanto II machine (BD) and FACSDiva software (BD) software for data acquisition.
       Note: Alternative FACS hardware and software packages can be utilized.
       
   16. Typically we find that more than 98% of the isolated ASCs express MSC markers, including CD90, CD44, CD29, CD73 and CD105. However, less than 1% of the isolated ASCs express cell surface markers for hematopoietic cells (CD34, CD14, CD11b, and CD45) and markers for endothelial cells (CD31 and CD106) (Figure 2).
       
       
3. Adipogenic differentiation
   
   1. Trypsinize ASCs and count cell number.
      
   2. Plate cells on cell culture treated 6-well-plates in proliferation medium (see Recipes) at the density of 10,000 cells/cm².
      
   3. Let cells grow to confluency and wait for another 48 h to arrest cell division.
      
   4. Treat cells with induction medium (Differentiation medium, containing 1 μM dexamethasone [diluted from 10 mM dexamethasone stock solution], 58 μg/ml insulin, 0.5 mM IBMX, and 200 μM indomethacin, see Recipes) for 2 weeks (We have observed that for longer term and more complex experimental studies [Leow et al., 2016], the treatment with induction medium can be decreased to 1 week). Change medium with fresh induction medium every 3 days. Treat cells with insulin medium (Differentiation medium, containing 10 μg/ml insulin, see Recipes). Change medium with fresh insulin medium every 2 days. Cells can be assayed from day-4 to day-7 post treatment with insulin medium. A representative image of differentiated ASC cultures is shown in Figure 1B, clusters of mature adipocytes filled with lipid droplets are visible.
      
   5. To assess lipid accumulation, Oil Red O staining is performed on differentiated mature adipocytes (Ramirez-Zacarias et al., 1992). For Oil Red O staining, remove medium and wash the cells with 2 ml of PBS/well. Fix the cells with 2 ml of 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA)/well for 30 min at room temperature before washing the cells with 4 ml of H₂O/well. Incubate the cells with 2 ml of 60% isopropanol/well for 5 min. Aspirate the isopropanol and incubate the cells with 2 ml of Oil Red O working solution/well for 30 min at room temperature. Aspirate Oil Red O working solution and wash the cells with H₂O before taking images. Representative images of Oil Red O stained mature adipocytes are shown in Figures 1C (4x objective) and 1D (20x objective). Oil Red O stained lipid droplets are clearly visible.
      

Data analysis

For characterization of surface marker expression of isolated human ASCs, flow cytometry data were collected with acquisition of 10,000 events per sample using the BD FACSCanto II machine (BD). Gate P2 was set according to staining intensity of appropriate isotype-matched control antibodies. Data analysis was performed using FACSDiva software (BD). Only representative data from one ASC culture are shown in this protocol. However, this protocol has been used to assess purity of several independent ASC cultures, with similar results obtained. No statistical analysis was performed in this protocol.

Notes

1. This protocol has been used to isolate human ASCs from several WAT biopsies and the protocol has proved to be reproducible.
   
2. The highest passage of ASCs we have used to study adipogenic differentiation potential is passage 10. However, a previous study has stated that ASCs maintain adipogenic differentiation capacity through multiple passages (up to at least passage 15) (Dicker et al., 2005).
   

Recipes

1. Collagenase solution (1 mg/ml) (prepare freshly)
   10 mg collagenase type IA
   200 mg BSA
   Top up with pre-warmed (37 °C) PBS to final volume of 10 ml
   Filter sterilize using a 0.22 μm syringe filter before use
   
2. Red blood cell (RBC) lysis buffer (10x)
   824 mg NH₄Cl
   100 mg KHCO₃
   4 mg EDTA
   Top up to 100 ml with PBS
   Filter sterilize using a 0.22 μm filter unit before use
   
3. Proliferation medium
   DMEM/F-12
   20% FBS
   1% P/S
   Filter sterilize using a 0.22 μm filter unit before use
   
4. Differentiation medium
   DMEM/F-12
   10% FBS
   1% P/S
   Filter sterilize using a 0.22 μm filter unit before use.
   
5. Induction medium (prepare freshly)
   Differentiation medium
   1 μM dexamethasone
   58 μg/ml insulin
   0.5 mM IBMX
   200 μM indomethacin
   
6. Insulin medium (prepare freshly)
   Differentiation medium
   10 μg/ml insulin
   
7. 10 mM dexamethasone stock solution (2,000x)
   Reconstitute 78.5 mg dexamethasone in 20 ml of 100% ethanol
   Filter sterilize using a 0.22 μm syringe filter and store at 4 °C
   
8. 1 mM dexamethasone working solution
   Dilute dexamethasone stock solution into 1 mM of dexamethasone working solution with PBS before using.
   
9. 0.5 M IBMX stock solution (1,000x)
   Reconstitute 1 g of IBMX in 9 ml of DMSO
   Filter sterilize using a 0.22 μm syringe filter
   Aliquot into 1 ml fractions and store at -20 °C
   
10. 200 mM indomethacin stock solution (1,600x)
    Reconstitute 71.567 mg of indomethacin in 1 ml of DMSO
    Filter sterilize using a 0.22 μm syringe filter and store at -20 °C
    
11. 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) (pH = 7.4)
    Add 4 g of paraformaldehyde to 48 ml of H₂O
    Heat to dissolve
    Add 2 N NaOH dropwise until solution becomes clear
    Add 50 ml of 2x PBS and mix
    Remove from heat and cool down the solution
    Adjust pH to 7.4
    Aliquot into 10 ml fractions and store at -20 °C
    
12. Oil Red O working solution (freshly prepared)
    Dissolve 300 mg of Oil Red O powder into 100 ml of 99% isopropanol as Oil Red O stock solution (store at room temperature)
    To prepare Oil Red O working solution, mix 3 parts of Oil Red O stock solution and 2 parts of H₂O and incubate at room temperature for 10 min
    Filter the Oil Red O working solution through filter paper
    Use the filtered working solution for staining within 2 h
    

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Khin Thida Soe for patient recruitment and coordinating human WAT biopsy collection at National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore. This work was supported by Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR) core funding. We also acknowledge the previously published protocols from Baglioni et al. (2009), Baglioni et al. (2012) and van Harmelen et al. (2005), based on which this current protocol was modified.

References

1. Baglioni, S., Cantini, G., Poli, G., Francalanci, M., Squecco, R., Di Franco, A., Borgogni, E., Frontera, S., Nesi, G., Liotta, F., Lucchese, M., Perigli, G., Francini, F., Forti, G., Serio, M. and Luconi, M. (2012). Functional differences in visceral and subcutaneous fat pads originate from differences in the adipose stem cell. PLoS One 7(5): e36569.
   
2. Baglioni, S., Francalanci, M., Squecco, R., Lombardi, A., Cantini, G., Angeli, R., Gelmini, S., Guasti, D., Benvenuti, S., Annunziato, F., Bani, D., Liotta, F., Francini, F., Perigli, G., Serio, M. and Luconi, M. (2009). Characterization of human adult stem-cell populations isolated from visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. FASEB J 23(10): 3494-3505.
   
3. Dicker, A., Le Blanc, K., Astrom, G., van Harmelen, V., Gotherstrom, C., Blomqvist, L., Arner, P. and Ryden, M. (2005). Functional studies of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adult human adipose tissue. Exp Cell Res 308(2): 283-290.
   
4. Leow, S. C., Poschmann, J., Too, P. G., Yin, J., Joseph, R., McFarlane, C., Dogra, S., Shabbir, A., Ingham, P. W., Prabhakar, S., Leow, M. K., Lee, Y. S., Ng, K. L., Chong, Y. S., Gluckman, P. D. and Stunkel, W. (2016). The transcription factor SOX6 contributes to the developmental origins of obesity by promoting adipogenesis. Development 143(6): 950-961.
   
5. Ramirez-Zacarias, J. L., Castro-Munozledo, F. and Kuri-Harcuch, W. (1992). Quantitation of adipose conversion and triglycerides by staining intracytoplasmic lipids with Oil red O. Histochemistry 97(6): 493-497.
   
6. van Harmelen, V., Skurk, T. and Hauner, H. (2005). Primary culture and differentiation of human adipocyte precursor cells. Methods Mol Med 107: 125-135.