Imaging Initial Ca²⁺ Microdomains in Primary T Cells

Our fundamental research, we want to understand the initial activation of the adaptive immune response. Calcium is one of the most widely used intracellular signal messengers. If we decipher the complex calcium activation, we may be able to intervene with a signaling machinery to treat pathological conditions such as autoimmune disease.

Using this method, we were able to identify the key players in the NADP signal in cascade and T cells, such as the NADP producing enzyme and NADP binding protein. Moreover, we were able to show that adhesion dependent calcium micro domains contribute to initial calcium signals independent of T-cell receptor stimulation. Our method is the first capable of detecting small, fast and highly dynamic calcium micro domains in primary T-cells, and can be easily adapted to other cell types, or stimulations and inhibitions.

Additionally, the combination of two chemical dyes allows the calibration of these calcium micro remains. We believe that the initial calcium micro remains shape the adaptive immune response by controlling the fate of individual T cells. Therefore, want to link the initial calcium response to downstream cycling events and adapt our imaging to life cell super resolution to resolve initial calcium nano domains.