Super-Resolution Imaging Approaches for Quantifying F-Actin in Immune Cells

Evelyn Garlick; Steven G Thomas; Dylan M Owen

doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.676066

Super-Resolution Imaging Approaches for Quantifying F-Actin in Immune Cells

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Aug 19:9:676066. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.676066. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Evelyn Garlick^{1

2}, Steven G Thomas^{1

2}, Dylan M Owen^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
² Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, United Kingdom.
³ Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Science and School of Mathematics, College of Engineering and Physical Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Immune cells comprise a diverse set of cells that undergo a complex array of biological processes that must be tightly regulated. A key component of cellular machinery that achieves this is the cytoskeleton. Therefore, imaging and quantitatively describing the architecture and dynamics of the cytoskeleton is an important research goal. Optical microscopy is well suited to this task. Here, we review the latest in the state-of-the-art methodology for labeling the cytoskeleton, fluorescence microscopy hardware suitable for such imaging and quantitative statistical analysis software applicable to describing cytoskeletal structures. We also highlight ongoing challenges and areas for future development.

Keywords: actin; cytoskeleton; fiber analysis; microscopy; super-resolution.

Publication types

Review