High-resolution, noninvasive longitudinal live imaging of immune responses

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Aug 2;108(31):12863-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1105002108. Epub 2011 Jul 18.

Abstract

Intravital imaging emerged as an indispensible tool in biological research, and a variety of imaging techniques have been developed to noninvasively monitor tissues in vivo. However, most of the current techniques lack the resolution to study events at the single-cell level. Although intravital multiphoton microscopy has addressed this limitation, the need for repeated noninvasive access to the same tissue in longitudinal in vivo studies remains largely unmet. We now report on a previously unexplored approach to study immune responses after transplantation of pancreatic islets into the anterior chamber of the mouse eye. This approach enabled (i) longitudinal, noninvasive imaging of transplanted tissues in vivo; (ii) in vivo cytolabeling to assess cellular phenotype and viability in situ; (iii) local intervention by topical application or intraocular injection; and (iv) real-time tracking of infiltrating immune cells in the target tissue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Anterior Chamber / cytology*
  • Anterior Chamber / metabolism
  • Anterior Chamber / surgery
  • CCR5 Receptor Antagonists
  • Chemokines / pharmacology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / therapy
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / cytology*
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred CBA
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Microscopy, Video / methods
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / pharmacology
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Amides
  • CCR5 Receptor Antagonists
  • Chemokines
  • Interleukin-2
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Interferon-gamma
  • TAK 779