Intravital Two-Photon Microscopy of the Transplanted Mouse Lung

The goal of our research is to understand the immune mechanisms underlying ischemia reperfusion injury and the inflammatory and tolerogenic responses after lung transplantation. We want to study the dynamic interactions between donor and recipient cells. We currently make use of several surgical and imaging techniques in the study of lung transplant immunology in the mouse.

These include orthotopic left lung transplantation and retransplantation, left pulmonary hilar clamping, non-invasive positron emission tomography, and two-photon intravital imaging. Our research reveals unique immune responses in transplanted lungs. Using advanced imaging techniques, we discovered that recipient monocytes promote neutrophil infiltration in lung allografts via IL-1 beta.

We also found that FOXP3 regulatory T cells cluster within these allografts and protect against antibody mediated rejection. Our technique is easy to set up, with materials readily found in a microscopy lab, such as tissue glue and cover glasses. Additionally, it provides a larger field of view compared to other techniques.

Our lab is interested in understanding mechanisms that induce and maintain lung allograft tolerance. Intravital imaging will allow us to visualize interactions between immune cells during rejection and tolerance.