Method Article

An In Vitro Method to Identify Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells Residing in Murine Lungs

July 8th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

Source: Christofides, A., et al. Flow Cytometric Analysis for Identification of the Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells of Murine Lung. J. Vis. Exp. (2021).

This video demonstrates an in vitro technique to identify immune cells residing in murine lungs. After isolating target immune cells from murine lung tissue, they are surface-labeled using a cocktail of fluorophore-tagged antibodies against specific markers on innate and adaptive immune cells. Additionally, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells are labeled using an intracellular marker. The various immune cell types are then identified using flow cytometry.

Protocol

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. Surgical excision and tissue preparation

  1. Euthanize the mouse by intraperitoneally injecting 1 mL of tribromoethanol (prepared according to standard protocol; Table of Materials).
    NOTE: CO2 asphyxiation should be avoided in lung studies as it might cause lung injury and alter the features and properties of lung immune cells. Cervical dislocation should also be avoided as it might cause mechanical injury of the lung.<....

Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.

Results

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,

Flow cytometry gating strategy; diagrams show cell population differentiation via CD markers in leukocytes.
Figure 1: The best cellular dissociation is achieved by 5 mg/mL of collagenase 1 in prewarmed PBS + 0.5% BSA. In all different conditions, 0.2 mg of DNAse I was also included. Abbreviations: BSA = bovine serum albumin; FSC-A = peak area of forwar.......

Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.

Disclosures

Loading...
$$\rightleftharpoonup{xx}$$ $$\longleftharp{xx}$$, $$\longrightharp{xx}$$,
No conflicts of interest declared.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
10 mL syringe plungerEXELINT26265
18 G needlesBD Precision Glide Needle305165
21 G needlesBD Precision Glide Needle305195
50 mL conical tubesFalcon3520
70 μm cell strainerThermoFisher22363548
96-well platesFalcon/corning3799
ACK Lysing BufferThermoFisherA10492-01
anti-mouse CD11bBiolegend101215For details see Table 2
anti-mouse CD11cBiolegend117339 / 117337For details see Table 2
anti-mouse CD45Biolegend103115For details see Table 2
anti-mouse CD64Biolegend139319For details see Table 2
anti-mouse CD68Biolegend137009For details see Table 2
anti-mouse GR-1Biolegend108433For details see Table 2
anti-mouse Siglec FBiolegend155503For details see Table 2
AVERTINSigma-Aldrich240486
B220Biolegend103228For details see Table 2
Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)Sigma-Aldrich9048-46-8
CD103Biolegend121405 / 121419For details see Table 2
CD24Biolegend138503For details see Table 2
CD3Biolegend100205For details see Table 2
Centrifuge
Collagenase Type 1Worthington Biochemical CorpLS004196
CX3CR1Biolegend149005For details see Table 2
DNase IMillipore Sigma10104159001
Ethanol
F4/80Biolegend123133For details see Table 2
FcBlock (CD16/32)Biolegend101301For details see Table 2
Fetal Bovine SerumR&D Systems
Fine Serrated ForcepsRoboz Surgical Instrument Co
Foxp3 / Transcription Factor Staining Buffer SetThermoFisher00-5523-00
Futura Safety ScalpelMerit Medical SystemsSMS210
Live/Dead Fixable Far Read Dead Cell Stain KitThermoFisherL34973For details see Table 2
MERTKBiolegend151505For details see Table 2
MHC-IIBiolegend107621For details see Table 2
NK1.1Biolegend108705For details see Table 2
Orbital ShakerVWRModel 200
Petri dishFalcon351029
Refrigerated benchtop centrifugeSORVAL ST 16R
Small curved scissorRoboz Surgical Instrument Co

Reprints and Permissions

Request permission to reuse the text or figures of this JoVE article

Request Permission

Tags

Murine Lung Immune CellsFlow Cytometry AnalysisTissue Digestion ProtocolCell Isolation TechniqueFc Receptor BlockingSurface Marker StainingIntracellular Marker LabelingImmune Cell ClassificationACK Lysis BufferBSA Buffer Wash

Related Articles