According to the CytoTune 2.0 Sendai Reprogramming Kit the following basic timeline applies:
Image of basic timeline for PBMC reprogramming using the Cytotune Sendai Reprogramming kit – via ThermoFisher manual.
However, Ash indicated that the full process is likely to take 3 months with a 7 day a week maintenance requirement. While this is pretty heaving going, the actual work should only be 1 – 2 hours per day which makes it manageable. I’m committing – nothing good ever came easy right!
Logistics
I had a preliminary meeting with Dr Ash Mehta on Monday (21/2) to discuss the iPSC generation using blood. He uses the ThermoFisher CytoTune-iPS Sendai Reprogramming system and has generously offered to guide me through the cell reprogramming/iPSC generation timeline. The great thing about doing this is that the cells are technical immortal when in a stem cell state. This will enable me to achieve the primary project aims even if immortalisation of primary cells via SV40 does not work.
We followed up again on Tuesday (22/2) to go over the process in more detail and set up basic project requirements including blood collection in collaboration with the clinical research team. As part of this process, Ash introduced me to a lovely phlebotomist who agreed to collect my blood, as well as the Menzies Clinical Research Facility Manager to ensure everyone is informed about the project and correct processes are in place to move forward. After supplying project documentation and confirmation of ethics clearance, I received final sign off from the Chair o CRFMC to proceed with blood collection on 23/2/ – so full steam ahead!
Ash also showed me around his lab and allowed me to view the PMBCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) he thawed last week. The cells are cultured in suspension (non-adherent) and are circular in shape.
PBMCs in culture – image courtesy of Ashish Mehta
He also showed me some iPSCs and the difference between stem cell colonies and cells that have started to differentiate.
iPSC colony. Image courtesy of Ashish Mehta
About PMBCs
As part the introduction to cell reprogramming, Ash explained the basics and value of working with blood cells.
Blood is made from a number of different cell types including red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (macrophages, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils ) and platelets (thrombocytes). Platelets and red blood cells have no nuclei so they cannot be reprogrammed and only the mononucleated (single nucleus) white blood cells are suitable for the process.
To isolate PMBCs, the blood undergoes gradient centrifugation which separates the blood into layers of cell types via density.
Diagram of peripheral blood separated into different layers including PBMCs ( round cells with a single nucleus: lymphocytes, monocytes, natural killer cells (NK cells), dendritic cells).
The advantage of using PBMCs is that you can tell more readily when the virus has initially successfully reprogrammed cells, as they change from non-adherent to adherent and start forming dense colonies of small cells.
The colonies need to be maintained meticulously as they tend to differentiate in culture (i.e. turn into (uncontrolled) specific cell types).
Ash indicated that when the blood is collected, it should be processed (PBMCs extracted) within a 4-hour window. A vial of blood should yield 4 – 5 million PBMCs, so he suggested that we freeze 4 x vials (1 x 106) as backup and proceed with a single 1 x 106 sample. This will also need careful planning to ensure that I am able to donate and process blood on the same day, plus move forward with the next steps involved.
On Thursday 24/2, Ash has kindly agreed for me to shadow him when he adds the Cytotune 2.0 (Sendai Virus reprogramming system) to the cultured PMBC samples. I’m looking forward to learning more.
After a long delay in finding a suitable Australian supplier for the immortalization kit, Jo-Maree identified an Australian supplier for the ABM SV40 Kit. I contacted them on Thurs (17/2) to see if they are able to supply the kit and provide technical support.
The good news is that the kit is available for purchase and shipping. However, I still need to check with the lab manager that lentiviral work is permissible in the lab I’m using at the moment. Once this is confirmed, I can move ahead with a quote.
After a couple of additional amendments including the submission of a medical questionnaire to confirm suitability for giving blood and formal signed consent form, I have formal UTAS ethics clearance to move forward with iPSC generation from blood.
This is a great milestone and means that I can move forward with lab practice. Brad has also kindly put me in touch with Dr Ashish Mehta who is an expert in stem cell culture.
I am currently planning out my upcoming show (June 2022) at The Barracks. Michelle from the Derwent Valley Arts Committee indicated that the large courtyard would make a potentially interesting site to include in the show.
This prompted me to ponder how I might create a sculptural work suitable for an outdoor environment – and whether I could re-make a version of ‘Coming to Terms with Being Forgotten’ – but designed to disintegrate, shed nutrients and enable the growth of other plants and animals. In this way, the work could better reflect the idea of letting go and making way for what comes after. It would also force me to be more considerate about the materials used in the construction of the work.
Svenja Kratz, Coming to Terms with Being Forgotten, 2020
Fibreglass, polyurethane, plastic, plants, insects, wax, polymer clay, clay, acrylic paint. Original sculpture exhibited at Rosny Barn (2020) and The Barracks (2021).
This consideration prompted me to revisit the work of Australian artist Jamie North:
Jamie North, Remainder No.4 2016
cement, blast-furnace slag, coal ash, marble waste, living Australian plants
45cm diameter.
I like the impermanence disintegrating aesthetic and the integration of live plants into the structure.
Some of his larger works also hint at the ephemerality of all things including monuments and other markers of ‘human ingenuity’.
Jamie North, Drifting to Void, 2016
Cement, blast-furnace slag, coal ash, marble waste, steel, living Australian plants, 240 x 67 x 67cm
Jamie North’s work also connects to the ‘TerraForm’ sculptures of Robert Cannon – although I must admit that I prefer the more abstracted works.
Robert Cannon, Apollo, concrete, moss and living plants via: Design Swan
Robert Cannon, Uprising, concrete, moss and living plants via: Design Swan
The work of Antony Gormley is also always interesting to consider in relation to the human figure.
In the context of this project, I think the work ‘Sense’ offers an interesting option in relation to the idea of an absent body (with the potential of filling of a void with potential growth).
Antony Gormley, Sense, 1991, concrete
While concrete is one material option for producing an outdoor sculpture, I really want to find an alternative casting material that would offer better biodegradability alongside nutrient supplements for organism growth and soil improvement.
There seem to be a growing number of more sustainable materials or biodegradable materials available for casting or injection moulding including bioplastics or Arboform, which manufacturers describe as ‘Liquid Wood’. However, a number of these products seem to be more designed for industrial and product design purposes. As such, I think this project is more suited to raw materials such as compost or a custom mix between a variety of elements (e.g. sand, rocks, compost, concrete, hay) to enable a range of durational unfoldings and both nutrients and potential habitats.
To help with some of the planning, I consulted designer (and UTAS concrete guru) Jouni Jarvela. He suggested that casting would be a good option, but it would be best to test a range of materials on a smaller scale before sizing the design up to a large-scale format. I do love me some design prototyping!
Following our chat, I will work on a smaller ‘bust’ version which will be easier to manage than a life-size human form. In the interim, he will consider some material options for testing.
I have to say that one of the things I love about making work is seeing where things go after an initial idea is put forward. At this stage, a life-size courtyard sculpture for June seems out of the realm of possibility – however, a series of degrading self-portrait busts may be the alternative outcome. Who knows….
While I wait for ethics clearance and team members to return to the lab, I am continuing to culture my cells.
3 x T75 and 1 x Cut Glass Dish ready for cell maintenance (media change) on 21/1/22.
At this point, I am feeding more confluent cells on a weekly basis (depending on how they look):
T75 originally plated 15/12/21 – Flask #1
T75 originally plated 15/12/21 – Flask #2
T75 originally plated 7/10/21
Cut Glass Dish – originally plated 15/12/21
While the cut glass dish is hard to image due to the more uneven surface of the glass, and being contained in a larger Petri Dish, there seems to be a good level of cell growth. Perhaps this will result in better staining in the next round.
I still have four other T75s. However, since these are less dense in cell numbers, I am limiting media change to reduce ongoing maintenance costs and media usage:
T75 originally plated 7/10/21 and passaged 16/11/21 – Flask #1
T75 originally plated 7/10/21 and passaged 16/11/21 – Flask #2
T75 originally plated 15/12/21 – Flask #3
I must admit that I am continually amazed that the original flask of cells plated by Jo-Maree in August last year (and passaged a month later) still has viable cells in it. While much of the T75 flask area is pretty sparse with cells, there are some larger clusters including a growing bunch of elongated fibroid-like cells:
T75 originally plated 10/09/21 showing sparse number of cells with evidence of previous cell movement and presence in ‘ghost trails’.
T75 originally plated 10/09/21 showing small cluster of cells with evidence of previous cell movement and presence in ‘ghost trails’.
T75 originally plated 10/09/21 showing larger cluster of fibroid-like cells.
They are easy to miss, but I’ve made a note to monitor their progress and see how they proliferate. Again…it just takes one mutant to get a cell line going!
After spending most of the day in the lab staining up the cut glass dishes and vessels…
… I have emerged victorious-less.
Microscope images of cut glass dishes after H&E staining on 20/01/22 showing scratches on glass surface and no cells.
There are no cells visible at all – just scratches on the surface of the glass. This is likely due to the very limited number of remaining cells which may have been further dislodged during the washing process.
The glass vials have not fared much better. While there are cells visible, most of them are dead or dried out as it was tricky working with the small opening and 3D surface area.
Microscope image of glass vial after H&E staining on 20/01/22. The image shows a vast number of dead cells that were not fixed in a live state.
Microscope image of glass vial after H&E staining on 20/01/22. The image shows dried cell remnants.
The flasks show relatively good fixation of the cells, but the staining is not really visible under the light microscope in the ‘dirty’ lab.
Microscope image of fixed PHGL Tumour Baby Cells after H&E staining on 20/01/22. The image shows intact fixed cells with very limited evidence of H&E stain.
I think, I will stick to Petri Dishes for the next test as they offer a more consistent surface area to work with.
Today, I plan to stain the cut glass, glass vessels and T25 Flasks.
Before I head over to the lab, I always review the protocol and make sure I have an easily accessible copy. While it is simple, I have not done it often enough to remember the process without error.
BASIC H&E STAIN:
I still need to check with the lab manager if I they are happy that I preserve the stained cells in resin for removal from the lab.
Reviewing the protocol also ensures that I check materials prior to starting the process – there is nothing worse than starting a protocol only to discover that some of the materials are missing.
The ethics amendment process was not quite as quick as I had hoped with a few requests for revisions:
:
I did not think that I need to include formal participant consent forms since I am both participant and lead researcher. However, the ethics officer indicated that this is now a requirement.
While it has meant more work for me, I can see the value in including a formal consent form and medical questionnaire. It ensures that there is clear consent alongside identification of risks associated with the procedures. It also ensure that I formally declare my fitness (i.e. health) in undertaking the processes listed (skin biopsy and blood collection) and clearly list the ways in which risks could be mitigated (e.g. reduce likelihood of bruising, scarring etc). While I already had a good understanding of these parameters, it was useful to have a formal list and agreement. Completing these forms will also make sure I am prepared for future applications, especially involving external (or internal) participants.
I’ve done my best with the document (with review by Brad) so am hopeful for approval for a Feb start! Luckily, I don’t mind admin/paperwork and find the ethics process interesting 🙂
Despite overall loss of cells, one of my P4 flasks which had a good level of cell growth previously still has a strong number of cells. It also shows ‘ghost trails’ over a prolonged period of culture without passage. The flask was originally plated out at P3 on 7/10/21 passaged on 9/11/21 with remaining cells maintained every week.
Image of PHGL Tumour Baby cells Flask with original plating date (P 3, 07/10/21) and passage date (P4, 09/11/21) recorded.
Images taken 15/12/21:
Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P3 in T75 flask [Org plated 07/10/21] imaged on 15/12/21.
Images taken 13/1/22:
Light microscope images of PHGL Tumour Baby P4 in T75 flask [Org P3 plated 07/10/21 – passaged P4 on 9/11/21] imaged on 13/1/22 after cell maintenance.
I maintained the cells (media change) on 13/1/22 and will allow them to grow for another week before I passage them and set up new experiments with cut glass and Petri dishes.
Prior to leaving for the festive season, I passaged my more confluent culture plates to establish fresh T75 flasks.
Flask #1
Photograph of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask plated on 15/12/21 prior to holidays.
Images taken 16/12/21:
Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask plated on 15/12/21.
Images taken 13/1/22:
Light microscope images of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask plated on 15/12/21 and imaged on 13/1/22.
Flask #2
Photograph of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask #2 plated on 15/12/21.
Images taken 16/12/21:
Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask 2 plated on 15/12/21.
Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask 2 plated on 15/12/21.
Images taken 13/1/22:
Light microscope image of PHGL Tumour Baby P5 in T75 flask 2 imaged on 13/1/22.
In both flasks here is some cell growth present. However, much less than expected. This may be due to my very low seeding ratio which was deliberate to avoid over-confluence during my absence. I changed the media for both flasks on 13/1/22 and will continue to maintain them to see if there is any further growth.