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Automated Quantification of Hematopoietic Cell – Stromal Cell Interactions in Histological Images of Undecalcified Bone
Published on: April 8, 2015
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Quantitative image analysis of cell colocalization in murine bone marrow
Zeinab Mokhtari1,2, Franziska Mech1,3, Sandra Zehentmeier3
1Applied Systems Biology, HKI-Center for Systems Biology of Infection, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.
Summary
Long-lived plasma cells in the bone marrow are crucial for antibody production. This study reveals that plasma cells colocalize with stromal cells and eosinophils, suggesting a supportive microenvironment for immunological memory.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Systems Biology
Background:
- Long-lived plasma cells are essential for sustained antibody production and immunological memory.
- The bone marrow serves as a critical niche for housing these long-lived plasma cells.
- Stromal cells and eosinophils are hypothesized to contribute to the plasma cell survival microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatial relationships between plasma cells, B cells, and eosinophils within the bone marrow niche.
- To quantitatively analyze cell colocalization using an image-based systems biology approach.
- To test hypotheses regarding cell positioning and survival within the bone marrow microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Generation of confocal fluorescence microscopy images from murine bone marrow histological sections.
- Automated quantitative analysis of cell distribution and colocalization.
- Computer simulations to compare observed cell distributions against random positioning hypotheses.
Main Results:
- Plasma cells and B cells exhibit significant colocalization with stromal cells, exceeding random distribution patterns.
- B cells tend to form clusters, while plasma cells are found solitarily or in loose aggregates.
- Spatial analysis supports the hypothesis of a specialized bone marrow microenvironment supporting plasma cell survival.
Conclusions:
- The bone marrow niche facilitates specific spatial arrangements of plasma cells with stromal cells and eosinophils.
- This colocalization likely contributes to the longevity of plasma cells and the maintenance of humoral immunity.
- Image-based systems biology provides a powerful approach to dissecting cellular interactions in immune niches.
