title: A novel method to allow noninvasive, longitudinal imaging of the murine immune system in vivo.
abstract: In vivo imaging has revolutionized understanding of the spatiotemporal complexity that subserves the generation of successful effector and regulatory immune responses. Until now, invasive surgery has been required for microscopic access to lymph nodes (LNs), making repeated imaging of the same animal impractical and potentially affecting lymphocyte behavior. To allow longitudinal in vivo imaging, we conceived the novel approach of transplanting LNs into the mouse ear pinna. Transplanted LNs maintain the structural and cellular organization of conventional secondary lymphoid organs. They participate in lymphocyte recirculation and exhibit the capacity to receive and respond to local antigenic challenge. The same LN could be repeatedly imaged through time without the requirement for surgical exposure, and the dynamic behavior of the cells within the transplanted LN could be characterized. Crucially, the use of blood vessels as fiducial markers also allowed precise re-registration of the same regions for longitudinal imaging. Thus, we provide the first demonstration of a method for repeated, noninvasive, in vivo imaging of lymphocyte behavior.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vivienne B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Bryson
authors.forename: Iain B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: McInnes
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grassia
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maffia
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garside
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007107:Immune System / Q000473:pathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D017785:Photons; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins