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Method Article

An Assay To Evaluate the Anticancer Effects of Lactobacillus Cell-Free Supernatant

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July 8th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

Source: Lee, J., et al. Evaluating Cell Death Using Cell-Free Supernatant of Probiotics in Three-Dimensional Spheroid Cultures of Colorectal Cancer Cells. J. Vis. Exp. (2020).

This video demonstrates an in vitro assay to study the anticancer effects of Lactobacillus cell-free supernatant (LCFS). Upon exposing colorectal cancer spheroids to varying doses of LCFS, the interaction with the bacterial metabolites in LCFS induces apoptosis in the cancer cells, disrupting the spheroid structure and leading to cell death in a dose-dependent manner.

Protocol

1. Bacterial cell cultures and preparation of Lactobacillus cell-free supernatant (LCFS)

NOTE: Steps 1.2 – 1.9 are conducted in an anaerobic chamber.

  1. Prepare a De Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) agar plate and broth containing L-cysteine and sterilize by autoclaving.
  2. Pre-incubate the MRS agar plate in H2 anaerobic chamber maintained at 37 ˚C with 20 ppm oxygen.
  3. Thaw Lactobacillus bacterial stock and inoculate the agar plate with the bacterial culture (Figure 1A (i)).
  4. Incubate bacteria for 2 - 3 days in H

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Results

Bacterial culture growth and cell seeding diagram; anaerobic chamber, MRS media, 96-well plate.
Figure 1: Schematic representation of spheroid formation and LCFS preparation.

(A) Schematic representation images of the LCFS generation protocol are marked by (i-iv) (B) Schematics of the methyl.......

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Disclosures

No conflicts of interest declared.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
Applied Biosystems MicroAmp Optical Adhesive FilmThermo Fisher Scientific4311971100 covers
Axygen 2.0 mL MaxyClear Snaplock Microcentrifuge Tube, Polypropylene, Clear, Nonsterile, 500 Tubes/Pack, 10 Packs/CaseCorningSCT-200-C500 Tubes/Pack, 10 Packs/Case
BD Difco Bacto AgarBD214010500 g
BD Difco Lactobacilli MRS BrothBDDF0881-17-5500 g
Corning Phosphate-Buffered Saline, 1X without calcium and magnesium, PH 7.4 ± 0.1Corning21-040-CV500 mL
Falcon 5 mL Round Bottom Polystyrene Test Tube, with Cell Strainer Snap CapCorning35223525/Pack, 500/Case
Fetal Bovine Serum, certified, US originThermo Fisher Scientific16000044500 mL
Lactobacillus fermentumKorean Collection for Type CulturesKCTC 3112
L-Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrateSigma-AldrichC6852-25G25 g
Methyl Cellulose (3500-5600mPa·s, 2% in Water at 20°C)TCIM0185500 g
MicroAmp Fast Optical 96-Well Reaction Plate with Barcode, 0.1 mLApplied Biosystems434690620 plates
Millex-GS Syringe Filter Unit, 0.22 µm, mixed cellulose esters, 33 mm, ethylene oxide sterilizedMilliporeSLGS033SB250
Penicillin-Streptomycin (10,000 U/mL)Thermo Fisher Scientific15140122100 mL
RPMI-1640Gibco11875-119500 mL
Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%), phenol redThermo Fisher Scientific25200056100 mL
Materials/Equipment/Software
CO2 incubatorThermo fisherHERAcell 150i
Conical tube 15 mlSPL50015
Conical tube 50 mlSPL50050
Corning Costar Ultra-Low Attachment Multiple Well PlateSigma-AldrichCLS7007
Corning Costar Ultra-Low Attachment Multiple Well PlateSigma-AldrichCLS3471
Costar 50 mL Reagent Reservoirs, 5/Bag, SterileCostar4870
Countess Cell Counting Chamber SlidesThermofisherC10228
Countess II FL Automated Cell CounterinvitrogenAMQAF1000
EnSpire Multimode ReaderPerkin ElmerEnspire 2300
Eppendorf Research Plus Multi Channel Pipette, 8-channelEppendorf3122000051
Incubated shakerLab companionSIF-6000R
Multi Gauge Ver. 3.0,FujifilmTokyo, Japan
Optical density (OD)LAMBDA UV/Vis SpectrophotometersPerkin ElmerWaltham, MA, USA
Phase-contrast microscopeOlympusTokyo, Japan
SPL microcentrifuge tube 1.5mLSPL60015
SPL Multi Channel Reservoirs, 12-Chs, PS, SterileSPL21012
Vibra-Cell Ultrasonic Liquid ProcessorsSONICS-vibra cellVC 505500 Watt ultrasonic processor
Vinyl Anaerobic ChamberCOY LAB PRODUCTS

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