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Visualizing and Tracking T Cell Motility In Vivo

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T-Cell Trafficking

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1591))

Abstract

Advanced cellular tracking and imaging techniques allow the dynamic nature of immune responses to be studied in detail and in a physiological context. Here we describe two methods applying multiphoton laser scanning microscopy to the visualization and tracking of fluorescently labeled CD4+ T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) within the complex lymph node (LN) environment. Ex vivo imaging of LNs allows the study of cell populations without the need for skilled surgical techniques while providing comparable data. While more technically demanding, intravital imaging of the popliteal LN allows aspects of T cell/DC responses to be studied in the context of an intact lymph and blood supply. We also describe methods to aid the acquisition of time series data suitable for cellular tracking, providing a quantitative approach to real-time analysis of DC and T cell LN responses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) for funding their research in conjunction with the ARUK Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis Centre of Excellence—RACE—part-funded by Arthritis Research UK through grant number 20298. The Centre is a collaboration between the Universities of Glasgow, Newcastle, and Birmingham. This work was also supported by the IMI JU-funded project BTCure 115142-2.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Immunobiology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK

    Robert A. Benson

  2. Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, B424, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK

    James M. Brewer

  3. Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, B526, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, Glasgow, G12 8TA, UK

    Paul Garside

Authors
  1. Robert A. Benson
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  2. James M. Brewer
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  3. Paul Garside
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert A. Benson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    George Edward Rainger

  2. Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medicine and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Helen M. Mcgettrick

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Benson, R.A., Brewer, J.M., Garside, P. (2017). Visualizing and Tracking T Cell Motility In Vivo. In: Rainger, G., Mcgettrick, H. (eds) T-Cell Trafficking. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1591. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6931-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6931-9_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6929-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6931-9

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