Dynamic intravital imaging of cell-cell interactions in the lymph node

Jens V Stein; Santiago F Gonzalez

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2016.11.008

Dynamic intravital imaging of cell-cell interactions in the lymph node

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017 Jan;139(1):12-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.11.008.

Authors

Jens V Stein¹, Santiago F Gonzalez²

Affiliations

¹ Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
² Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland. Electronic address: santiago.gonzalez@irb.usi.ch.

PMID: 28065277
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.11.008

Abstract

In the last decade, the application of 2-photon intravital microscopy as a tool to study cell interactions in different areas of the immune system has offered an unprecedented opportunity to understand the complexity of cell behavior in relation to immune functions. In this review we describe the latest advances in the field of live imaging in the lymph nodes, grouping the different cell populations in 2 compartments according to their motility: the sessile compartment, which is formed by resident cells of stromal origin, macrophages, and resident dendritic cells, and the motile compartment, which is mainly formed by T and B lymphocytes. Here we review how the use of in vivo imaging has contributed to our understanding of the role of these cells in the initiation of the immune response in the draining lymph nodes.

Keywords: 2-photon microscopy; Intravital imaging; cell interaction; cell trafficking; lymph node.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Communication*
Humans
Intravital Microscopy
Lymph Nodes / cytology*
Lymph Nodes / immunology