Organ specific sensory neurons are difficult to identify. Fast Blue tracing is used to identify nodose neurons innervating the airways for cell sorting. Sorted nodose neurons are used to extract high quality ribonucleic acid (RNA) for sequencing. Using this protocol, gene expression of airway specific neurons is determined.
Somatosensory nerves transduce thermal, mechanical, chemical, and noxious stimuli caused by both endogenous and environmental agents. The cell bodies of these afferent neurons are located within the sensory ganglia. Sensory ganglia innervate a specific organ or portion of the body. For instance, the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are located in the vertebral column and extend processes throughout the body and limbs. The trigeminal ganglia are located in the skull and innervate the face, and upper airways. Vagal afferents of the nodose ganglia extend throughout the gut, heart, and lungs. The nodose neurons control a diverse array of functions such as: respiratory rate, airway irritation, and cough reflexes. Thus, to understand and manipulate their function, it is critical to identify and isolate airway specific neuronal sub-populations. In the mouse, the airways are exposed to a fluorescent tracer dye, Fast Blue, for retrograde tracing of airway-specific nodose neurons. The nodose ganglia are dissociated and fluorescence activated cell (FAC) sorting is used to collect dye positive cells. Next, high quality ribonucleic acid (RNA) is extracted from dye positive cells for next generation sequencing. Using this method airway specific neuronal gene expression is determined.
Somatosensory nerves transduce thermal, mechanical, chemical, and noxious stimuli caused by both endogenous and environmental agents. The cell bodies of these afferent nerves are located in sensory ganglia, such as the dorsal root, trigeminal, or nodose ganglia. Each sensory ganglion innervates specific regions of the body and contains cells that innervate separate organs and tissues within that region. For instance, the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are located in the vertebral column and extend processes throughout the body and limbs, while the trigeminal ganglia are located in the skull, containing neurons that innervate the face, eyes, meninges or upper airways1,2. The nodose ganglia of the vagus nerve is located in the neck below the skull and contains cell bodies that extend nerve fibers throughout the gastrointestinal tract, heart, and lower airways and lungs3. In humans the nodose ganglion stands alone, however, in the mouse it is fused with the jugular ganglion, which also innervates the lungs4. This fused ganglion is often called the jugular/nodose complex, vagal ganglion, or simply nodose ganglion5. Here, it is referred to as the nodose ganglion.
Afferent fibers of the nodose pass information from the viscera to the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in the brainstem. Sensory input to this unique ganglion controls a diverse array of functions, such as gut motility6, heart rate7, respiration8,9, and irritant-activated respiratory responses10,11. With this diversity of functions and innervated organs, it is critical to target and isolate organ-specific subpopulations of the nodose ganglion in order to study individual neuronal pathways. However, given the small size of the nodose and the limited number of neurons it contains this is not a trivial task. Each mouse nodose ganglion contains roughly 5,000 neurons12 in addition to an extensive population of supporting satellite cells. Of the 5,000 nodose neurons, only 3 – 5% innervate the airways. Therefore, any functional, morphological or molecular changes within airway-innervating neurons, due to respiratory stimulation or pathologies, will be lost in the densely packed nodose ganglion.
To solve this problem, a method was developed to identify and isolate neurons that innervate the airways. The airways were exposed to a fluorescent tracer dye to identify the subsequent innervating nodose neurons. Fast Blue was picked up by neurons and travels quickly to their cell bodies where it is retained for up to eight weeks13–15. Once identified, a gentle, yet efficient, dissociation protocol was used to preserve dye labeling and cell viability for fluorescent activated cell (FAC) sorting. Sorted cells are used to extract high quality ribonucleic acid (RNA) to determine gene expression or for other downstream molecular analysis. This protocol provides a useful and robust technique for isolating sensory neurons that innervate a tissue of interest.
Procedures involving animal subjects have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Duke University.
1. Intranasal Administration of Fast Blue
For Fast Blue, administer the dye at least 2 days before euthanizing the mouse. The dye will persist for up to eight weeks.
2. Preparations on Dissection and Analysis Day
Ingredient | Amount |
Advanced DMEM/f12 | 9.5 ml |
glutamine | 100 µl |
HEPES (10 mM) | 100 µl |
N2 supplement | 100 µl |
B27 (no vitamin A) | 200 µl |
NGF (50 µg/ml) | 10 µl |
Table 1. Reagent Mixture for Ganglia Dissociation Solution (GaDS).
3. Dissection Procedure
4. Sensory Ganglia Dissociation
5. Fluorescence Activated Cell (FAC) Sorting
Note: This section requires operational knowledge of a FACS sorter or the assistance of skilled personnel.
6. RNA Extraction
Using this method, airway-innervating neurons are labeled by intranasally instilling Fast Blue (Figure 1A). After two days, Fast Blue labeled cells appear in the nodose ganglia (Figure 1C). These cells make up 3 – 5% of the total neuronal population of the nodose ganglia. Other retrograde dyes that have been used for this purpose include DiI (1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate) and Fluorogold. Lung exposure to DiI labels nodose neurons. However, DiI takes longer to reach the ganglion, 7 – 14 days after instillation18,19, therefore an actively transported dye was used. Fluorogold is an actively transported dye that has also been used to label airway neurons14,20. In our experience, however, once this dye reached the cell bodies in the nodose ganglion it was quickly picked up by satellite cells and not neurons (data not shown). Fast Blue is an alternate actively transported fluorescent dye that successfully, and quickly, labels DRG in rats21 and airway-innervating nodose neurons13,14. The Fast Blue approach, therefore, appears more robust and reproducible.
The dissection of the nodose ganglion has been previously described16 and its location is briefly illustrated in Figure 1B. Digestion begins immediately after the nodose ganglia have been excised. To prevent neurons from clumping together and allow for a cleaner sort, use a gentle digestion enzyme, clear any debris and add RNase to the ganglia sorting solution. Multiple digestion enzyme mixes were tested for effectiveness. A mild digestion enzyme mix22 was tried, however, for adult ganglion digestion it was not strong enough to break apart cells in a timely fashion. Alternatively, a previously used23 combination of papain, protease, and collagenase enzyme mixture, proved to be too aggressive and caused undesirable cell death (data not shown). The outlined digestion protocol, with the specified enzyme mix, was found to be the ideal for a timely digestion with high cell viability.
Previous methods have used manual cell picking with a glass pipette to separate labeled cells from unlabeled cells24. This technique is better suited for single cell analysis of a small number of cells. However, with a maximal rate of 48 cells/hr this technique is impractical when whole populations of hundreds or thousands of cells need to be collected. When the goal is to isolate high quality RNA, time becomes a key variable. It is important to begin RNA extraction as quickly as possible to prevent degradation. FAC sorting allows collection of the entire labeled population in ~45 min and RNA extraction is started immediately after.
When sorting neurons it is important to clear as much debris from broken neuronal processes. A density gradient was used to clear the debris from the dissociated samples. It is important to centrifuge at a high enough force to ensure that C-fiber neurons, which have a small radius, ~5 µm24, are forced through the gradient.
Figure 2A and B show the negative and positive controls used to set the sorting gates. As can be seen in Figure 2C, the dissociated Fast Blue labeled nodose cells sort into two populations. The cell numbers collected from this sample are listed in Figure 2D. Sorting efficiency for this method is 73 – 85%. When sorting neurons the forward scatter and side scatter parameters did not add specificity. Since neurons are not spherical these parameters were unable to reliably report cell size.
For high quality RNA yield, cells need to be sorted directly into the lysis buffer and RNA should be extracted immediately after sorting. A microfluidic electrophoresis system was used to test the quality of RNA (Figure 3). The 18S and 28S peaks are determined via gel electrophoresis used to calculate an RNA integrity number (RIN). For RNA sequencing the sample RIN should be greater than 7. This RNA sample is now ready to be sequenced.
Figure 1. Fast Blue Labeling of Airway Innervating Neurons in the Nodose Ganglia of the Vagus Nerve. A) A representation of Fast Blue intranasal instillation into the lungs. Under light sevoflurane anesthesia, pipette 40 µl of Fast Blue in PBS with 1% DMSO into the nostrils of a mouse, making sure the mouse is aspirating in the fluid. B) A diagram showing where the nodose ganglion is located. It appears as a thickening of the vagus nerve, which runs along the carotid artery. C) After at least 2 days, Fast Blue appears in the nodose ganglia, marking airway neurons. The nodose is counterstained with red fluorescent Nissle stain, which stains all neurons. Scale bar is 100 µm. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2. Fluorescence Activated Cell (FAC) Sorting Gates for Fast Blue Positive Cells. To set up sorting gates use the negative (A) and positive (B) controls to establish the Fast Blue positive population. The negative control (A) is dissociated DRG cells that do not innervate the lungs. The positive control (B) is dissociated DRG cells that are incubated with Fast Blue in vitro, after they have been dissected. Due to the non-spherical shape of dissociated neurons, the forward scatter and side scatter parameters will not help define the cell population. C) A representative sort of dissociated nodose ganglia cells of mice whose airways have been exposed to Fast Blue. D) The cell count for (C). Over 1,000 Fast Blue (FB) cells were collected. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3. Assessment of RNA Quality and Assignment of RNA Integrity Number (RIN) Using a Microfluidic Electrophoresis System. Using an electrophoresis system the quality of RNA is calculated from the 18S and 28S peaks on the pictured gel image. The lower peak represents degraded RNA. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
This protocol describes a method to target airway-innervating neurons in the nodose ganglia of the vagus nerve. Once labeled, the ganglia are gently dissociated to optimally preserve cell numbers and viability. These neurons are then FAC sorted directly into lysis buffer and RNA is extracted. The significance of this protocol is the ability to target, isolate, and preserve the quality of a specific sensory cell population. Gene expression is described in this small population of neurons, and organ-specific functions and neural networks are identified.
The critical steps in this protocol include rapid progression through the dissociation process and subsequent cell sorting. It is important to schedule the sorting time such that it begins immediately after dissociation. It is also critical that all the RNA extraction reagents are fresh, the 70% and 80% ethanol solutions are made fresh, and all tubes and equipment for RNA extraction are clean and RNase free.
This protocol can be modified such that cells are sorted individually into well plates for single cell RNA extraction and sequencing. It can also be used to isolate cells from other sensory ganglia, such as dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Dye injection of different body parts for tracing back to DRGs has been previously described17. This protocol can also be modified to collect cells for functional analysis. Instead of sorting cells into lysis buffer, cells are sorted into neuronal culture medium, GaDS. These cells are then cultured and used for functional studies such as calcium imaging, or electrophysiology.
If the Fast Blue positive population is smaller than the expected outcome, purchase new digestion enzyme. The age of the digestion enzyme is correlated to the efficiency of digestion. The digestion enzyme needs to be used within 1 year of purchase. In the case where the cell number is high, RNA is extracted and the quality tested. If the RNA is degraded this is an indication that the reagents are not fresh, or have been contaminated. In this case, be sure to thoroughly clean all RNA extraction areas, pipettes, racks, and anything that will come in contact with the sample tubes. Make fresh RNase and DNase free 70% and 80% ethanol. The water and ethanol used to make these solutions should also be kept separate from other lab supplies and used solely for RNA extraction.
FAC sorting is a fast and efficient method for isolating Fast Blue positive cells, however, one limitation is that the cell density should be 1 to 2 million cells per ml buffer. This protocol pushes the limit of current cell sorter models. The number of cells in the nodose ganglion is small. To get a cell yield sufficient for the cell sorter, cells from five animals are pooled. The sorting volume described is 200 – 300 µl and has fewer than 100,000 suspended cells. This translates to a concentration of around 450,000 cells per ml, below the recommended density. One alternative to using a cell sorter is to handpick with a fluorescent microscope and glass pipette24. This technique is slower and has been used to collect 30 – 100 cells at a time. Therefore, this protocol offers a faster high-throughput method compared to existing methods.
The future applications of this protocol include the ability to determine the transcriptional profile of a specific population of airway-innervating nerves. The high quality RNA collected using this protocol can be used as a template for cDNA synthesis and next generation sequencing, and other techniques to characterize the transcriptome of the collected neurons. In this way, it can be determined which genes or pathways are specific to these neurons. This information will help to elucidate the functional role these neurons play in normal physiological conditions. Once basic expression patterns have been established, the system can be challenged by physical and chemical stimuli or by pathogens to determine their effects on gene regulation in lung-innervating neurons. Finally, by identifying which genes are regulated we can identify new pharmacological targets and start to investigate the effects of therapeutics to interfere with acute and chronic changes of nerve function in airway diseases.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Supported by NIH grant R01HL105635 to SEJ. The authors would like to thank Diego V. Bohórquez for technical advice. We also thank R. Ian Cumming for technical assistance and performing the flow cytometry at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute Research Flow Cytometry Shared Resource Facility (Durham, NC). Flow cytometry was performed in the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory at Duke which received partial support for construction from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (UC6-AI058607).
Fast Blue | Polysciences, Inc. | 17740-2 | stock 2 mg/ml in water |
NeuroTrace 530/615 red Nissle stain | Life Technologies | N21482 | |
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) | Fisher Scientific | D128-500 | |
Dulbecco's Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) Ca and Mg free | Gibco | 14190-144 | |
Advanced DMEM/F12 | Gibco | 12634-010 | |
glutamine (Glutamax) | Gibco | 35050-061 | |
HEPES | Gibco | 15630-080 | |
N2 | Gibco | 17502-048 | |
B27 (no vitamin A) | Gibco | 12587-010 | |
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) | Sigma | N6009 | stock 50 µg/ml in PBS/10% FBS |
digestion enzyme, Liberase DH Research Grade | Roche | 5401054001 | stock 2.5 mg/ml in water |
particle solution (Percoll) | Sigma | P1644-25ML | |
Heating block | LabNet | ||
70 um cell strainer | Falcon | 352350 | |
Absolute Ethanol (200 proof) | Fisher Scientific | BP2818-500 | |
RNase free water | Fisher Scientific | BP2484-100 | |
RNase decontamination reagent, RNase AWAY | invitrogen | 10328-011 | |
2-mercaptoethanol | VWR | EM-6010 | |
RNA extraction kit, RNeasy Plus Micro Kit | Qiagen | 74034 | |
DNase kit, RNase-Free DNase Set | Qiagen | 79254 | |
DNase | Sigma | D5025-15KU | stock 10 mg/ml in 0.15 M NaCl |
Propidium Iodide | Sigma | P4170-10MG | stock 10 µg/ml in PBS |
Microfluidic electrophoresis system (TapeStation 2200) | Agilent |