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Visualization of mucosal homeostasis via single- and multiphoton intravital fluorescence microscopy.

ABSTRACT: FIVM has provided many insights into the regulation of immunity. We report the validation of an approach for visualizing murine small bowel via single- and multiphoton FIVM. Tissue damage is limited to ∼200 μm, immediately adjacent to the incision, as confirmed by intravital PI staining. Treatment with 10 KDa dextran-FITC and 70 KDa dextran-TR confirms that perfusion is intact. Selective filtration of 10 KDa but not 70 KDa dextran from the blood indicated that kidney function is also intact. Interestingly, lamina propria vasculature is semipermeable to 10 KDa dextran. Next, reporter mice expressing egfp from the CX3CR1 locus, egfp from the FoxP3 locus, or RFP from the IL-17F locus were used to track DC subsets, FoxP3(+) Tregs, or Th17f cells, respectively. Resident cx3cr1(+/egfp) cells were sessile but actively probed the surrounding microenvironment. Both T cell populations patrol the lamina propria, but the Th17f cells migrate more rapidly than Tregs. Together, these data demonstrate intact vascular perfusion, while intravitally visualizing the mucosal surface of the small bowel. Lastly, the cx3cr1(+) DCs and T cells display activity similar to that found in steady-state, secondary lymphoid organs.

SUBMITTER: Xu C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3427606 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundCancer is a highly complex disease which involves the co-operation of tumor cells with multiple types of host cells and the extracellular matrix. Cancer studies which rely solely on static measurements of individual cell types are insufficient to dissect this complexity. In the last two decades, intravital microscopy has established itself as a powerful technique that can significantly improve our understanding of cancer by revealing the dynamic interactions governing cancer initiation, progression and treatment effects, in living animals. This review focuses on intravital multiphoton microscopy (IV-MPM) applications in mouse models of cancer.Recent findingsIV-MPM studies have already enabled a deeper understanding of the complex events occurring in cancer, at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels. Multiple cells types, present in different tissues, influence cancer cell behavior via activation of distinct signaling pathways. As a result, the boundaries in the field of IV-MPM are continuously being pushed to provide an integrated comprehension of cancer. We propose that optics, informatics and cancer (cell) biology are co-evolving as a new field. We have identified four emerging themes in this new field. First, new microscopy systems and image processing algorithms are enabling the simultaneous identification of multiple interactions between the tumor cells and the components of the tumor microenvironment. Second, techniques from molecular biology are being exploited to visualize subcellular structures and protein activities within individual cells of interest, and relate those to phenotypic decisions, opening the door for "in vivo cell biology". Third, combining IV-MPM with additional imaging modalities, or omics studies, holds promise for linking the cell phenotype to its genotype, metabolic state or tissue location. Finally, the clinical use of IV-MPM for analyzing efficacy of anti-cancer treatments is steadily growing, suggesting a future role of IV-MPM for personalized medicine.ConclusionIV-MPM has revolutionized visualization of tumor-microenvironment interactions in real time. Moving forward, incorporation of novel optics, automated image processing, and omics technologies, in the study of cancer biology, will not only advance our understanding of the underlying complexities but will also leverage the unique aspects of IV-MPM for clinical use.

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Visualization of mucosal homeostasis via single- and multiphoton intravital fluorescence microscopy.

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