Molecular live cell bioimaging in stem cell research.
Functional heterogeneity within stem and progenitor cells has been shown to influence cell fate decisions. Similarly, intracellular signaling activated by external stimuli is highly heterogeneous and its spatiotemporal activity is linked to future cell behavior. To quantify these heterogeneous states and link them to future cell fates, it is important to observe cell populations continuously with single cell resolution. Live cell imaging in combination with fluorescent biosensors for signaling activity serves as a powerful tool to study cellular and molecular heterogeneity and the long-term biological effects of signaling. Here, we describe these methodologies, their advantages over classical approaches, and we illustrate how they could be applied to improve our understanding of the importance of heterogeneous cellular and molecular responses to external signaling cues.
Research Unit Stem Cell Dynamics, Helmholtz Center Munich-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
Max
M
Endele
Timm
T
Schroeder
D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D019070:Cell Lineage; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor