Abstract
BACKGROUND & SIGNIFICANCE
The immune response is a coordinated effort directed by cytokine gradients and concentrations. High sensitivity and spatial resolution are necessary to resolve cytokine gradients in 3-dimensions. This system uses in situ confocal fluorescent microscopy with printed bead-based immunoassays. The combination of 3D printing of the beads and biofabrication of patient derived tumors allows for direct imaging, quantification, and movies of tumor cytokine secretion in response to challenges from immune cells, tumor associated fibroblasts, and chemotherapeutic agents. HYPOTHESIS: Cytokine dynamics can be measured in real-time by balancing concentrations of detection antibodies in solution with stationary immunoassay beads with measured capture and release rates. Favorable balancing of assay kinetics can facilitate measurements of concentrations of cytokines between 50 pg/mL to over 2,000 pg/mL.
METHODS
In situ confocal fluorescent microscopy identifies position, fluorescence, and type of bead relative to the in vitro tumor. Cytokines including IL2, IL6, IL8, IL11, and IFNg and growth factors such as VEGF and TGFb have been measured for a wide range of solid tumors (brain, sarcoma, and epithelial) under different stresses.
RESULTS
Dynamic gradients of IL8 were found across multiple tumor models showing local concentrations in excess of 2,000 pg/mL. Production rates were estimated to be over 1 protein per second for each cell, and inclusion of cancer associated support cells showed 10x increases in some cytokines. CD4+ cell production of IL2 was confirmed and quantified and showed strong sensitivity to tumor activity and antigen presentation. Multiplexed beads of CCL2, CCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL10 allow for simultaneous measurement of multiple chemokines. Uncertainties associated with fluorescence measurement and quantification of concentrations will be discussed.
CONCLUSIONS
This integrated system of 3D assay printing, biofabrication of tumors and immune cell constructs, and in situ confocal microscopy provides the first direct measurements of 3D cytokine gradients in response to tumor stress.