Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Isolating Immune Cells from Mouse Brain and Skull
Published on: July 26, 2024
Protocol for isolation of live tumor-infiltrating immune cells from immunocompetent murine brains for
Aimée du Chatinier1, Leyla Rigamonti1, Piotr Waranecki1
1Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht 3584 CS, the Netherlands.
Here, we present an optimized workflow to isolate viable immune cells from tumor-bearing mouse brains, with particular emphasis on myeloid populations, to enable detailed functional analysis of the tumor-immune microenvironment. We describe steps for intracardiac perfusion and regional brain dissection. We then detail procedures for gentle enzymatic-mechanical dissociation, efficient myelin and red blood cell removal, and optional CD11b+ enrichment. This approach preserves immune cell viability and epitope diversity, supporting high-dimensional proteomic profiling via spectral flow cytometry and single-cell multi-omics.
Here, we present an optimized workflow to isolate viable immune cells from tumor-bearing mouse brains, with particular emphasis on myeloid populations, to enable detailed functional analysis of the tumor-immune microenvironment. We describe steps for intracardiac perfusion and regional brain dissection. We then detail procedures for gentle enzymatic-mechanical dissociation, efficient myelin and red blood cell removal, and optional CD11b+ enrichment. This approach preserves immune cell viability and epitope diversity, supporting high-dimensional proteomic profiling via spectral flow cytometry and single-cell multi-omics.
