Name: imaging cd4 t cell interstitial migration in the inflamed dermis
Uploaded: 2016-03-25T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis at JoVE.com

The authors thank the University of Rochester Multiphoton Microscope Core facility for help with live imaging. Supported by NIH AI072690 and AI02851 to DJF; AI114036 to AG and AI089079 to MGO.

All procedures involving mice were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Rochester, and carried out in strict accordance with the Animal Welfare Act and the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals administered by the National Institutes of Health, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.
1. Preparation of Effector CD4 T Cells
NOTE: BALB/c TCR-transgenic DO11.10 mice that specifically recognize a ...

Significance
Here we present a complete protocol for the 4D visualization of transferred, antigen-specific effector Th1 cells in the intact mouse ear dermis. This method provides advantages over some current imaging modalities for several reasons. By imaging the ventral ear dermis, we are able to forego hair removal that is required for imaging protocols involving other skin sites. Although depilatories are generally mild, they have been shown to cause disruption to the skin barrier <...

The effector function of CD4 T cells is critically dependent on their ability to rapidly enter and traverse a wide variety of peripheral tissues to survey for damage, locate foci of infection, or cause pathology from chronic infection or autoimmunity. While the processes of homing to inflamed sites1-4 and extravasation5-7 from the vasculature into tissues have been well-characterized, the factors that drive and regulate the interstitial motility of T cells remain undefined. The migration of T cells in complex 3D environments has been studied in vitro through the use of artificial matrices8-10 or microfluidic devices11,12, but these fail to recapitulate the complex and dynamic environment of an in vivo system. It is only recently, with the advent of high-resolution multi-color intravital imaging that it has become possible to study the dynamic behavior of immune cells in situ, allowing for a better understanding of intact immune responses.
Over a decade ago, several influential studies were published that first utilized multiphoton microscopy to address immunological questions. Early studies focused on the behavior of immune cells within explanted lymphoid organs13-16, which were soon followed by techniques to image exposed lymph nodes in anesthetized mice17. Imaging allowed for new fundamental observations about the stages of lymph node priming of T cells18, the mechanisms by which T cells migrate in secondary lymphoid organs19, T cell interactions with other immune cells20,21, and dynamic T cell positioning within the lymph node22. Although many early studies focused on lymph node dynamics, intravital imaging has been since been utilized to image the immune response in many peripheral tissues, including the brain23-25, liver26, lung27, and skin28-30. 
The mouse ear dermis is particularly well poised for imaging, due to the thinness of ear skin, a relative lack of hair, and the ease with which it can be isolated from respiratory movements31. Indeed, the ear dermis has been used to image the interstitial behavior of dendritic cells32,33, T cells28,29,34,35, and neutrophils36,37, and is a well-established site for studying dermal inflammation. Increasingly, non-invasive procedures have been replacing surgical preparations of the skin, including split dermis38,39, flank39,40, or dorsal skin flap window39,41 models, that can induce changes to the local inflammatory milieu. The use of transferred, in vitro-primed, antigen-specific CD4 effector T cells allows for the study of a homogenous population of cells in the context of a dermal inflammatory response30. Here we describe a non-invasive imaging procedure that allows for the visualization of antigen-specific effector CD4 T cells in the dermal interstitium of the inflamed mouse ear, and the ability to manipulate these cells in real-time by introducing blocking antibodies through a venous catheter. We show that this model is effective for tracking the movement of CD4 T cells in the dermis and for querying the mechanisms that govern this motility.

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	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">BALB/c mice</td>
			<td style="width:145px;">Jackson Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:196px;">000651</td>
			<td style="width:472px;">Mice used were bred in-house</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">DO11.10 mice</td>
			<td>Jackson Laboratories</td>
			<td>003303</td>
			<td>Mice used were bred in-house</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">HBSS</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>10-013-CV</td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Newborn Calf Serum (NCS)</td>
			<td>Thermo/HyClone</td>
			<td>SH30118.03</td>
			<td>Heat inactivated at 56 &#176;C for 30 minutes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Guinea Pig Complement</td>
			<td>Cedarlane</td>
			<td>CL-5000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">anti-CD8 antibody</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>3.155 (ATCC TIB-211)</td>
			<td>Antibodies derived from&#160; this hybridoma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">anti-MHC Class II antibody</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>M5/114.15.2 (ATCC TIB-120)</td>
			<td>Antibodies derived from&#160; this hybridoma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">anti-CD24 antibody</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>J11d.2 (ATCC TIB-183)</td>
			<td>Antibodies derived from&#160; this hybridoma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">anti-Thy1.2 antibody</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>J1j.10 (ATCC TIB-184)</td>
			<td>Antibodies derived from&#160; this hybridoma</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Ficoll (Fico/Lite-LM)</td>
			<td>Atlanta Biologicals</td>
			<td>I40650</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">PBS</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>21-040-CV</td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">EDTA</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>15323591</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">biotinylated anti-CD62L antibody (clone MEL-14)</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>553149</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">streptavidin magnetic separation beads</td>
			<td>Miltenyi</td>
			<td>130-048-101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">MACS LS Separation Column</td>
			<td>Miltenyi</td>
			<td>130-042-401</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">recombinant human IL-2</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>200-02</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">recombinant mouse IL-4</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>214-14</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">recombinant mouse IL-12</td>
			<td>Peprotech</td>
			<td>210-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">anti-IFNg antibody (clone XMG 1.2)</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>16-7311-85</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">anti-IL-4 antibody (clone 11b11)</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>16-7041-85</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">RPMI</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>45000-412</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Penicillin/Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>15303641</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">L-glutamine</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>15323671</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">2-mercaptoethanol</td>
			<td>Bio-Rad</td>
			<td>161-0710</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">ovalbumin peptide</td>
			<td>Biopeptide</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>ISQAVHAAHAEINEAGR-OH peptide</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Fetal Calf Serum (FCS)</td>
			<td>Thermo/HyClone</td>
			<td>SV30014.03</td>
			<td>Heat inactivated at 56 &#176;C for 30 minutes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">24-well culture plate</td>
			<td>LPS</td>
			<td>3526</td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">CFSE</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>C34554</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">CMTMR</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>C2927</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">28 G1/2 insulin syringes, 1ml</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>329420</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">28 G1/2 insulin syringes, 300&#956;l</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>309301</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">27 G1/2 TB syringes, 1ml</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>309623</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">30 G1/2 needles</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>305106</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">PE-10 medical tubing</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>427400</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">cyanoacrylate veterinary adhesive (Vetbond)</td>
			<td>3M</td>
			<td>1469SB</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">heating plate</td>
			<td>WPI</td>
			<td>61830</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Heating plate controller</td>
			<td>WPI</td>
			<td>ATC-2000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Water blanket controller</td>
			<td>Gaymar</td>
			<td>TP500</td>
			<td>No longer in production, newer equivalent available</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">water blanket</td>
			<td>Kent Scientific</td>
			<td>TP3E</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Isoflurane vaporizer</td>
			<td>LEI Medical</td>
			<td>Isotec 4</td>
			<td>No longer in production, newer equivalent available</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">isoflurane</td>
			<td>Henry Schein</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Ordered through Veterinary staff</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">microcentrifuge tubes</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>20170-038</td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">medical tape</td>
			<td>3M</td>
			<td>1538-0</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">isoflurane nosecone</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Built In-house, see Fig 2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">imaging platform</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Built In-house, see Fig 2</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">curved forceps</td>
			<td>WPI</td>
			<td>15915-G</td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">scissors</td>
			<td>Roboz</td>
			<td>RS-6802</td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">glass coverslips</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">high vacuum grease</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>146355D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">cotton swabs</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">delicate task wipes</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>34155</td>
			<td>Multiple Equivalent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:247px;">Olympus Fluoview 1000 AOM-MPM upright microscope with Spectra-Physics MaiTai HP DeepSee Ti:Sa laser</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>call for quote</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">optical table with vibration control</td>
			<td>Newport</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>call for quote</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">25x NA 1.05 water immersion objective for multiphoton imaging</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>XLPLN25XWMP2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">objective heater</td>
			<td>Bioptechs</td>
			<td>PN 150815</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Detection filter cube</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>FV10-MRVGR/XR</td>
			<td>Proprietary cube, can be approximated from individual filters/dichroics</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">anti-integrin &#946;1 antibody (clone hMb1-1)</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>16-0291-85</td>
			<td>Azide free, low endotoxin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:247px;">anti-integrin &#946;3 antibody (clone 2C9.G3)</td>
			<td>eBioscience</td>
			<td>16-0611-82</td>
			<td>Azide free, low endotoxin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:247px;">Texas Red Dextran (70,000 MW)</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>D-1830</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

imaging cd4 t cell interstitial migration in the inflamed dermis

The ability of CD4 T cells to carry out effector functions is dependent upon the rapid and efficient migration of these cells in inflamed peripheral tissues through an as-yet undefined mechanism. The application of multiphoton microscopy to the study of the immune system provides a tool to measure the dynamics of immune responses within intact tissues. Here we present a protocol for non-invasive intravital multiphoton imaging of CD4 T cells in the inflamed mouse ear dermis. Use of a custom imaging platform and a venous catheter allows for the visualization of CD4 T cell dynamics in the dermal interstitium, with the ability to interrogate these cells in real-time via the addition of blocking antibodies to key molecular components involved in motility. This system provides advantages over both in vitro models and surgically invasive imaging procedures. Understanding the pathways used by CD4 T cells for motility may ultimately provide insight into the basic function of CD4 T cells as well as the pathogenesis of both autoimmune diseases and pathology from chronic infections.

The ability to study immune responses in situ without altering the immune environment is essential in studying real-time interactions of T effector cells with an inflamed tissue. Imaging of the intact ear dermis by this protocol, outlined in Figure 1A and B, allows for the visualization of transferred fluorescently labeled T effector cells in the dermal interstitium. This permits both high-resolution (Figure 1C) and time-lapse (<...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis at JoVE.com

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

The mechanisms that govern the interstitial motility of CD4 effector T cells at sites of inflammation are relatively unknown. We present a non-invasive approach to visualize and manipulate in vitro-primed CD4 T cells in the inflamed ear dermis, allowing for study of the dynamic behavior of these cells in situ.

The ability of CD4 T cells to carry out effector functions is dependent upon the rapid and efficient migration of these cells in inflamed peripheral ...

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