Source: McKiel, L. A., et al. A Macrophage Reporter Cell Assay to Examine Toll-Like Receptor-Mediated NF-kB/AP-1 Signaling on Adsorbed Protein Layers on Polymeric Surfaces. J. Vis. Exp. (2020).
This video demonstrates an assay to examine the toll-like receptor(TLR)-dependent activity of the transcription factors nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in macrophages. The TLRs trigger a pro-inflammatory signaling cascade upon recognizing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), activating NF-κB and AP-1. The engineered reporter macrophages produce secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) enzyme upon NF-κB and AP-1 activation, which is detected via a chromogenic reaction.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Cell culture reagents | |||
anti-mouse/human CD282 (TLR2) | Biolegend | 121802 | |
CLI-095 (TLR4 inhibitor) | Invivogen | TLRL-CLI95 | |
C57 complement plasma K2 EDTA 10ml, innovative grade US origin | InnovativeResearch | IGMSC57-K2 EDTA-Compl-10ml | Mouse plasma |
Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) | Sigma Aldrich | D6429-500ML | |
Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (DPBS) | Fisher Scientific | 14190250 | No calcium, no magnesium |
Fetal bovine serum (FBS), research grade | Wisent | 98150 | |
LPS-EK | Invivogen | TLRL-EKLPS | Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli K12 |
NIH/3T3 fibroblasts | ATCC | CRL-1658 | |
Pam3CSK4 | Invivogen | tlrl-pms | Synthetic triacylated lipopeptide – TLR1/2 ligand |
Penicillin/streptomycin | Sigma Aldrich | P4333-100ML | |
Plasmocin | Invivogen | ANT-MPP | Mycoplasma elimination reagent |
RAW-Blue cells | Invivogen | raw-sp | NF-κB/AP-1 reporter macrophage cell line |
Trypan blue solution, 0.4% | Fisher Scientific | 15250061 | |
TrypLE express enzyme (1X) | Fisher Scientific | 12604021 | animal origin-free recombinant cell dissociation enzyme |
Zeocin | Invivogen | ANT-ZN-1 | |
Kits and assays | |||
ELISA precoated plates, mouse IL-6 | Biolegend | B213022 | |
ELISA precoated plates, mouse TNF-α | Biolegend | B220233 | |
Endotoxin (Escherichia coli) – Control standard endotoxin (CSE) | Associates of Cape Cope Inc. | E0005-5 | Endotoxin for standard curve in chromogenic endotoxin assay |
LAL water, 100 mL | Associates of Cape Cope Inc. | WP1001 | Used with chromogenic endotoxin assay |
Micro BCA protein assay | Fisher Scientific | PI23235 | |
Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) Pyrochrome endotoxin test kit | Associates of Cape Cope Inc. | C1500-5 | Chromogenic endotoxin assay reagent |
QUANTI-Blue alkaline phosphatase detection medium | Invivogen | rep-qb2 | Alkaline phosphatase assay to indirectly measure NF-κB/AP-1 activity |
Polymeric coating reagents | |||
Chloroform, anhydrous | Sigma Aldrich | 288306-1L | |
Ethyl alcohol anhydrous | Commercial Alcohols | P006EAAN | Sigma: Reagent alcohol, anhydrous, 676829-1L |
Straight tapered fine tip forceps | Fisher Scientific | 16-100-113 | |
Fluorinert FC-40 solvent | Sigma Aldrich | F9755-100ML | Fluorinated solvent for fPTFE |
Cell culture grade water (endotoxin-free) | Fisher Scientific | SH30529LS | |
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) | Sigma Aldrich | 182230-25G | |
Sylgard 184 elastomer kit | Fisher Scientific | 50822180 | |
Teflon-AF (fPTFE) | Sigma Aldrich | 469610-1G | Poly[4,5-difluoro-2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dioxole-co-tetrafluoroethylene] |
Consumables | |||
Adhesive plate seals | Fisher Scientific | AB-0580 | |
Axygen microtubes, 1.5 mL | Fisher Scientific | 14-222-155 | |
Borosilicate glass scintillation vials, with white polypropylene caps | Fisher Scientific | 03-337-4 | |
Clear PS 48-well plate | Fisher Scientific | 08-772-52 | |
Clear TCPS 96-well plate | Fisher Scientific | 08-772-2C | |
Clear TCPS 48-well plate | Fisher Scientific | 08-772-1C | |
Cover glasses, circles | Fisher Scientific | 12-545-81 | |
Falcon tissue culture treated flasks, T25 | Fisher Scientific | 10-126-10 | |
sticky-Slide 8 Well | Ibidi | 80828 | |
Superfrost microscope slides | Fisher Scientific | 12-550-15 | |
Tissue culture treated flasks, T150 | Fisher Scientific | 08-772-48 |