Skin‐ny deeping: Uncovering immune cell behavior and function through imaging techniques*

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingrou Tan ◽  
Hong Liang Tey ◽  
Shu Zhen Chong ◽  
Lai Guan Ng
Author(s):  
Selina K. Jorch ◽  
Carsten Deppermann

Leukocytes are among the most mobile and versatile cells that have many essential functions in homeostasis and survival. Especially cells from the innate immune system, i.e., neutrophils and macrophages, play an important role as rapid first responders against invading microorganisms. With the advent of novel imaging techniques, new ways of visualizing innate immune cells have become available in recent years, thereby enabling more and more detailed discoveries about their nature, function and interaction partners. Besides intravital spinning-disc and 2-photon microscopy, clearing and 3D-imaging techniques provide new insights into the mechanism of innate immune cell behavior in their natural environment. This mini review focuses on the contributions of novel-imaging techniques to provide insight into the functions of neutrophils and macrophages under homeostasis and in infections. Imaging setups for different organs like the liver, kidney, heart, lung, and the peritoneal cavity are discussed as well as the current limitations of these imaging techniques.


Diabetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 222-OR
Author(s):  
MICHAEL J. NASH ◽  
TAYLOR K. SODERBORG ◽  
RACHEL C. JANSSEN ◽  
ERIC M. PIETRAS ◽  
JACOB E. FRIEDMAN

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Kiraga ◽  
Paulina Kucharzewska ◽  
Damian Strzemecki ◽  
Tomasz P. Rygiel ◽  
Magdalena Król

Abstract In vivo tracking of administered cells chosen for specific disease treatment may be conducted by diagnostic imaging techniques preceded by cell labeling with special contrast agents. The most commonly used agents are those with radioactive properties, however their use in research is often impossible. This review paper focuses on the essential aspect of cell tracking with the exclusion of radioisotope tracers, therefore we compare application of different types of non-radioactive contrast agents (cell tracers), methods of cell labeling and application of various techniques for cell tracking, which are commonly used in preclinical or clinical studies. We discuss diagnostic imaging methods belonging to three groups: (1) Contrast-enhanced X-ray imaging, (2) Magnetic resonance imaging, and (3) Optical imaging. In addition, we present some interesting data from our own research on tracking immune cell with the use of discussed methods. Finally, we introduce an algorithm which may be useful for researchers planning leukocyte targeting studies, which may help to choose the appropriate cell type, contrast agent and diagnostic technique for particular disease study.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 823
Author(s):  
Jian Tan ◽  
Duan Ni ◽  
Rosilene V. Ribeiro ◽  
Gabriela V. Pinget ◽  
Laurence Macia

Cell survival, proliferation and function are energy-demanding processes, fuelled by different metabolic pathways. Immune cells like any other cells will adapt their energy production to their function with specific metabolic pathways characteristic of resting, inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cells. This concept of immunometabolism is revolutionising the field of immunology, opening the gates for novel therapeutic approaches aimed at altering immune responses through immune metabolic manipulations. The first part of this review will give an extensive overview on the metabolic pathways used by immune cells. Diet is a major source of energy, providing substrates to fuel these different metabolic pathways. Protein, lipid and carbohydrate composition as well as food additives can thus shape the immune response particularly in the gut, the first immune point of contact with food antigens and gastrointestinal tract pathogens. How diet composition might affect gut immunometabolism and its impact on diseases will also be discussed. Finally, the food ingested by the host is also a source of energy for the micro-organisms inhabiting the gut lumen particularly in the colon. The by-products released through the processing of specific nutrients by gut bacteria also influence immune cell activity and differentiation. How bacterial metabolites influence gut immunometabolism will be covered in the third part of this review. This notion of immunometabolism and immune function is recent and a deeper understanding of how lifestyle might influence gut immunometabolism is key to prevent or treat diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Newsholme

AbstractVarious nutrients can change cell structure, cellular metabolism, and cell function which is particularly important for cells of the immune system as nutrient availability is associated with the activation and function of diverse immune subsets. The most important nutrients for immune cell function and fate appear to be glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamin D. This perspective will describe recently published information describing the mechanism of action of prominent nutritional intervention agents where evidence exists as to their action and potency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Clemens Richter ◽  
Aljawharah Alrubayyi ◽  
Alicia Teijeira Crespo ◽  
Sarah Hulin-Curtis ◽  

Abstract The role of obesity in the pathophysiology of respiratory virus infections has become particularly apparent during the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, where obese patients are twice as likely to suffer from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than healthy weight individuals. Obesity results in disruption of systemic lipid metabolism promoting a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. However, it remains unclear how these underlying metabolic and cellular processes promote severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Emerging data in SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A virus (IAV) infections show that viruses can further subvert the host’s altered lipid metabolism and exploit obesity-induced alterations in immune cell metabolism and function to promote chronic inflammation and viral propagation. In this review, we outline the systemic metabolic and immune alterations underlying obesity and discuss how these baseline alterations impact the immune response and disease pathophysiology. A better understanding of the immunometabolic landscape of obese patients may aid better therapies and future vaccine design.


RMD Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e001549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélie Najm ◽  
Alessia Alunno ◽  
Xavier Mariette ◽  
Benjamin Terrier ◽  
Gabriele De Marco ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a global health problem. Beside the specific pathogenic effect of SARS-CoV-2, incompletely understood deleterious and aberrant host immune responses play critical roles in severe disease. Our objective was to summarise the available information on the pathophysiology of COVID-19.MethodsTwo reviewers independently identified eligible studies according to the following PICO framework: P (population): patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection; I (intervention): any intervention/no intervention; C (comparator): any comparator; O (outcome) any clinical or serological outcome including but not limited to immune cell phenotype and function and serum cytokine concentration.ResultsOf the 55 496 records yielded, 84 articles were eligible for inclusion according to question-specific research criteria. Proinflammatory cytokine expression, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), was increased, especially in severe COVID-19, although not as high as other states with severe systemic inflammation. The myeloid and lymphoid compartments were differentially affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection depending on disease phenotype. Failure to maintain high interferon (IFN) levels was characteristic of severe forms of COVID-19 and could be related to loss-of-function mutations in the IFN pathway and/or the presence of anti-IFN antibodies. Antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection showed a high variability across individuals and disease spectrum. Multiparametric algorithms showed variable diagnostic performances in predicting survival, hospitalisation, disease progression or severity, and mortality.ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 infection affects both humoral and cellular immunity depending on both disease severity and individual parameters. This systematic literature review informed the EULAR ‘points to consider’ on COVID-19 pathophysiology and immunomodulatory therapies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly B. Menees ◽  
Rachael H. Earls ◽  
Jaegwon Chung ◽  
Janna Jernigan ◽  
Nikolay M. Filipov ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Physiological homeostasis decline, immunosenescence, and increased risk for multiple diseases, including neurodegeneration, are all hallmarks of ageing. Importantly, it is known that the ageing process is sex-biased. For example, there are sex differences in predisposition for multiple age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. However, sex differences in age-associated immune phenotypes are not clearly understood. Results Here, we examined the effects of age on immune cell phenotypes in both sexes of C57BL/6J mice with a particular focus on NK cells. We found female-specific spleen weight increases with age and concordant reduction in the number of splenocytes per gram of spleen weight compared to young females. To evaluate sex- and age-associated changes in splenic immune cell composition, we performed flow cytometry analysis. In male mice, we observed an age-associated reduction in the frequencies of monocytes and NK cells; female mice displayed a reduction in B cells, NK cells, and CD8 + T cells and increased frequency of monocytes and neutrophils with age. We then performed a whole blood stimulation assay and multiplex analyses of plasma cytokines and observed age- and sex-specific differences in immune cell reactivity and basal circulating cytokine concentrations. As we have previously illustrated a potential role of NK cells in Parkinson’s disease, an age-related neurodegenerative disease, we further analyzed age-associated changes in NK cell phenotypes and function. There were distinct differences between the sexes in age-associated changes in the expression of NK cell receptors, IFN-γ production, and impairment of α-synuclein endocytosis. Conclusions This study demonstrates sex- and age-specific alterations in splenic lymphocyte composition, circulating cytokine/chemokine profiles, and NK cell phenotype and effector functions. Our data provide evidence that age-related physiological perturbations differ between the sexes which may help elucidate sex differences in age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease, where immune dysfunction is implicated in their etiology.


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