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Application Notes

3D Time-Lapse Imaging of Spheroids with the FLUOVIEW FV3000 Confocal Microscope: 48-Hour Continuous Observation of Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC)


Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) is one of the mechanisms of action of antibody drugs. Effector cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells and monocytes, recognize target cells (such as cancer cells) that have been bound by an antibody. Upon recognizing the antibody, the effector cells then destroy the target cells by releasing cytotoxic factors that induce cell lysis. In this application, we performed a three-dimensional co-culture experiment using human colon cancer cells (HT-29) and NK cells (KHYG-1) expressing a functional Fcgamma (FCγ) receptor in the presence of human EGFR-targeted therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, and observed them for forty-eight hours using the FLUOVIEW FV3000 confocal microscope. The resulting three-dimensional (3D) imaging of ADCC enabled us to capture how NK cells attack cancer cells.

3D Live-Cell Spheroid Imaging with Reduced Phototoxicity

Cell masses grown in a 3D culture system (called spheroids) are difficult to image due to the thickness of the mass. Higher excitation light intensity is typically required to produce a fluorescent signal strong enough to be detected. However, higher excitation light also increases phototoxicity, resulting in damage to the cells. To combat this, we used the FV3000 microscope, which incorporates Olympus’ TruSpectral detection technology to capture weak fluorescent signals and minimize the laser power required for signal generation deep within a spheroid. Furthermore, we used a 60X silicone oil immersion objective (closely matching the refractive index of live cells) to achieve brighter images with higher resolution for deep observation. By combining these two technologies, we successfully captured bright 3D time-lapse images of a spheroid for 48 hours, as it collapsed due to NK cell-mediated HT-29 cell death.


Fig. 1: Movie obtained by 3D imaging NK cells attacking spheroid HT-29 tumor cells for 48 hours

NK cell line KHYG-1 (green) expressing functional Fcgamma (FCγ) receptors and ZsGreen fluorescent proteins were cultured with spheroids of HT-29 cells (cell lines derived from colorectal cancer). The surfaces of HT-29 cells were labeled with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab (Alexa Fluor 647, blue). HT-29 and NK cells were cultivated in the presence of propidium iodide (PI), and XYZT imaging was performed over the course of 48 hours. Nuclei labeled red (marking cellular uptake of PI) was used as an indicator of cell death.

Imaging conditions
Objective: 60X Silicone oil immersion objective (UPLSAPO60XS)
Microscope: FLUOVIEW FV3000 System
Lasers: 488 nm (ZsGreen, green), 561 nm (PI, red), 640 nm (Alexa Fluor 647, blue)

Z-Drift Compensation System Enables Accurate Time-Lapse Imaging

For experiments that evaluate the effectiveness of antibody drugs, long-term imaging of live cells is indispensable. To more precisely capture the effect of NK cells on spheroidal cancer cells,  we used a Z-drift compensator (IX3-ZDC2) to prevent changes in focus due to external environmental changes such as temperature variation. The IX3-ZDC2 enabled us to obtain a time-lapse image over a long period without losing focus on the spheroid. This enabled us to confirm that the NK cells actively change their shape while attacking and entering the tumor mass.

Fig. 2: NK cell line KHYG-1 (green) changing shape while attacking and killing HT-29 tumor cells labeled with cetuximab (blue). PI uptake (red) indicates cell death.

Fig. 2: NK cell line KHYG-1 (green) changing shape while attacking and killing HT-29 tumor cells labeled with cetuximab (blue). PI uptake (red) indicates cell death. 9h
9h
Fig. 2: NK cell line KHYG-1 (green) changing shape while attacking and killing HT-29 tumor cells labeled with cetuximab (blue). PI uptake (red) indicates cell death. 11h
11h
Fig. 2: NK cell line KHYG-1 (green) changing shape while attacking and killing HT-29 tumor cells labeled with cetuximab (blue). PI uptake (red) indicates cell death. 17h
17h
Fig. 2: NK cell line KHYG-1 (green) changing shape while attacking and killing HT-29 tumor cells labeled with cetuximab (blue). PI uptake (red) indicates cell death. 22h
22h
Fig. 2: NK cell line KHYG-1 (green) changing shape while attacking and killing HT-29 tumor cells labeled with cetuximab (blue). PI uptake (red) indicates cell death. 24h
24h

Fig. 2: NK cell line KHYG-1 (green) changing shape while attacking and killing HT-29 tumor cells labeled with cetuximab (blue). PI uptake (red) indicates cell death.

How the FV3000 Confocal Microscope Facilitated Our Experiment

Fully Spectral System Provides High Sensitivity

The FV3000 series employs Olympus' TruSpectral detection technology that diffracts light via transmission through a volume phase hologram unit. This technology enables much higher light throughput when compared to conventional spectral detection units with reflection-type gratings, and minimizes the laser power needed for deep tissue observation.

Maintain Focus with Z-Drift Compensation (ZDC) System

The IX3-ZDC2 Z-drift compensator uses minimally-phototoxic infrared light (laser class 1) to identify the location of the sample plane. One-shot autofocus (AF) mode enables several focus positions to be set as desired for deeper samples, enabling efficient Z-stack acquisitions in multiposition experiments.

Silicone Immersion Objectives for Live-Cell Imaging Deliver High-Resolution Observation at Depth

The refractive index of silicone oil (ne≈1.40) is close to that of living tissue (ne≈1.38), enabling high-resolution observations deep inside living tissue with minimal spherical aberration caused by refractive index mismatch. Silicone oil also does not dry out or harden, so there is no need to refill the oil, making it ideal for extended time-lapse observations.

Comment by Dr. Yuji Mishima

Dr. Yuji Mishima

Dr. Yuji Mishima

In recent years, the demand for fluorescence imaging in cancer research has been increasing, as have the number of experiments required to sterically evaluate the effectiveness of antibody medicine—especially with spheroid cells. Spheroids are very difficult to observe using fluorescence due to their thickness, but by using the FV3000 microscope, we were able to observe spheroid cancer cells throughout their entirety for 48 hours. Throughout the ADCC experiment, we were able to accurately measure living cancer cells, dead cells, and effector cells (NK cells) as they responded to the antibody treatment. I felt the FV3000 was very effective for evaluating the therapeutic effectiveness of antibody medicine.

Acknowledgments
This application note was prepared with the help of the following researchers: 
The Cancer Chemotherapy Center of JFCR, Dr. Yuji Mishima

Products Related to This Application

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope

FV4000

  • Game-changing dynamic range for imaging from the macro scale to subcellular structures
  • Multiplex up to six channels simultaneously with TruSpectral technology
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*As of October 2023.

Super Apochromat Objectives

UPLSAPO-S/UPLSAPO-W

These super apochromat objectives provide spherical and chromatic aberration compensation and high transmission from the visible to the near infrared. Using silicone oil or water immersion media, which have refractive indexes closely matching that of live cells, they achieve high-resolution imaging deep in living tissue. 

  • Compensate for both spherical and chromatic aberrations and high transmission from the visible to the near-infrared region
  • Silicone oil or water immersion media help achieve high-resolution imaging deep in living tissue and reduce spherical aberration as their refractive indexes closely match that of live cells
Z Drift Compensator

TruFocus (IX3-ZDC2)

  • Always in Focus
  • Designed for Ease-of-use
  • Dedicated to Live Cell Imaging
  • High-Precision, Multi-Area Imaging with cellSens Software

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