1
|
Puschhof J, Post Y, Beumer J, Kerkkamp HM, Bittenbinder M, Vonk FJ, Casewell NR, Richardson MK, Clevers H. Derivation of snake venom gland organoids for in vitro venom production. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:1494-1510. [PMID: 33504990 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-00463-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
More than 400,000 people each year suffer adverse effects following bites from venomous snakes. However, snake venom is also a rich source of bioactive molecules with known or potential therapeutic applications. Manually 'milking' snakes is the most common method to obtain venom. Safer alternative methods to produce venom would facilitate the production of both antivenom and novel therapeutics. This protocol describes the generation, maintenance and selected applications of snake venom gland organoids. Snake venom gland organoids are 3D culture models that can be derived within days from embryonic or adult venom gland tissues from several snake species and can be maintained long-term (we have cultured some organoids for more than 2 years). We have successfully used the protocol with glands from late-stage embryos and recently deceased adult snakes. The cellular heterogeneity of the venom gland is maintained in the organoids, and cell type composition can be controlled through changes in media composition. We describe in detail how to derive and grow the organoids, how to dissociate them into single cells, and how to cryopreserve and differentiate them into toxin-producing organoids. We also provide guidance on useful downstream assays, specifically quantitative real-time PCR, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and genetic engineering. This stepwise protocol can be performed in any laboratory with tissue culture equipment and enables studies of venom production, differentiation and cellular heterogeneity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens Puschhof
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Yorick Post
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joep Beumer
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Harald M Kerkkamp
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Institute of Biology Leiden, Department of Animal Science and Health, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Matyas Bittenbinder
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Amsterdam Institute for Molecules Medicines and Systems, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Freek J Vonk
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael K Richardson
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Department of Animal Science and Health, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. .,Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|