Isolation of Type I and Type II Pericytes from Mouse Skeletal Muscles

J Vis Exp. 2017 May 26:(123):55904. doi: 10.3791/55904.

Abstract

Pericytes are perivascular multipotent cells that show heterogeneity in different organs or even within the same tissue. In skeletal muscles, there are at least two pericyte subpopulations (called type I and type II), which express different molecular markers and have distinct differentiation capabilities. Using NG2-DsRed and Nestin-GFP double-transgenic mice, type I (NG2-DsRed+Nestin-GFP-) and type II (NG2-DsRed+Nestin-GFP+) pericytes have been successfully isolated. However, the availability of these double-transgenic mice prevents the widespread use of this purification method. This work describes an alternative protocol that allows for the easy and simultaneous isolation of type I and type II pericytes from skeletal muscles. This protocol utilizes the fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) technique and targets PDGFRβ, rather than NG2, together with the Nestin-GFP signal. Following isolation, type I and type II pericytes show distinct morphologies. In addition, type I and type II pericytes isolated with this new method, like those isolated from the double-transgenic mice, are adipogenic and myogenic, respectively. These results suggest that this protocol can be used to isolate pericyte subpopulations from skeletal muscles and possibly from other tissues.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Pericytes / cytology*
  • Pericytes / metabolism