Source: Bolívar, B. E., et. al., Visualization of Inflammatory Caspases Induced Proximity in Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages. J. Vis. Exp. (2022).
This video demonstrates the activation of caspase proteins in human macrophages using bimolecular fluorescence complementation reporter proteins. The pro-domains of caspase-1 are fused with non-fluorescent fragments of Venus proteins, which are recruited to inflammasome complexes. The proximity of inflammasomes induces the refolding and fluorescence of Venus fragments, confirming caspase activation in the macrophages.
48-well tissue culture2:34 plates | Genesee Scientific | 25-108 | |
10 cm Tissue Culture Dishes | VWR | 25382-166 | |
2 Mercaptoethanol 1000x | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 21985023 | |
8-well chambered coverglass with 1.5 HP coverglass | Cellvis | c8-1.5H-N | |
AutoMACS columns | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-021-101 | For automated separation using AutoMACS Pro Separator only |
AutoMACS Pro Separator | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-092-545 | For automated separation using AutoMACS Pro Separator only |
AutoMACS Pro Washing Solution | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-092-987 | For automated separation using AutoMACS Pro Separator only |
AutoMACS Rinsing Solution | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-091-222 | For automated separation using AutoMACS Pro Separator only |
AutoMacs running buffer | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-091-221 | For manual or automated separation using QuadroMACS or AutoMACS pro Separator |
Axio Observer Z1 motorized inverted microscope equipped with a CSU-X1A 5000 spinning disk unit | Zeiss | Any confocal microscope equipped with a laser module fitted with laser lines of 568 nm (RFP) and 488 or 512 nm (GFP or YFP) wavelengths can be used | |
AxioObserver A1, Research-Grade Inverted Microscope | Zeiss | Any epifluorescence microscope with fluorescence filters capable of exciting 568 nm (RFP) and 488 or 512 nm (GFP or YFP) wavelengths can be used | |
CD14+ MICROBEADS | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-050-201 | For manual or automated separation using QuadroMACS or AutoMACS pro Separator |
DPBS without calcium chloride and magnesium chloride | Sigma | D8537-6x500ML | |
DsRed mito plasmid | Clontech | 632421 | Similar plasmids that can be used as fluorescent reporters can be found on Addgene |
Fetal Bovine Serum | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 10437028 | |
Ficoll-Paque PLUS 6 x 100 mL | Sigma | GE17-1440-02 | |
GlutaMAX Supplement (100x) | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 35050079 | |
GM-CSF | Thermo Fisher Scientific | PHC2011 | |
Hemin BioXtra, from Porcine, INSERT CHARACTR96.0% (HPLC) | Sigma | 51280-1G | |
HEPES | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 15630106 | |
Inflammatory caspase BiFC plasmids | Available by request from LBH lab | ||
LPS-EB Ultrapure | Invivogen | TLRL-3PELPS | |
LS Columns | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-042-401 | For manual separation using QuadroMACS Separator only |
MACS 15 mL Tube Rack | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-091-052 | For manual separation using QuadroMACS Separator only |
MACS MultiStand | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-042-303 | For manual separation using QuadroMACS Separator only |
mCherry plasmid | Yungpeng Wang Lab | Similar plasmids that can be used as fluorescent reporters can be found on Addgene | |
Neon Transfection System | Thermo Fisher Scientific | MPK5000 | Includes Neon electroporation device, pipette and pipette station |
Neon Transfection System 10 µL Kit | Thermo Fisher Scientific | MPK1096 | Includes resuspension buffer R, resuspension buffer T, electrolytic buffer E, 96 x 10 µL Neon tips and Neon electroporation tubes |
Nigericin sodium salt, ready made solution | Sigma | SML1779-1ML | |
Penicillin-Streptomycin (10,000 U/mL) | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 15140122 | |
Poly-D-Lysine Hydrobromide | Sigma | P7280-5mg | |
QuadroMACS Separator | Miltenyi (Biotec) | 130-090-976 | For manual separation using QuadroMACS Separator only |
qVD-OPh | Fisher (ApexBio) | 50-101-3172 | |
RPMI 1640 Medium | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 11875119 | |
Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%), phenol red | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 25200072 | |
UltraPure 0.5 M EDTA, pH 8.0 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | 15575020 |