Adult stem cell lineage tracing and deep tissue imaging
Juergen Fink1, Amanda Andersson-Rolf1, Bon-Kyoung Koo1
1Department of Genetics and Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, United Kingdom.
BMB Reports
|December 5, 2015
Summary
Lineage tracing tracks cells in development and disease. This review covers traditional and new methods for labeling and imaging cells to understand their behavior.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Lineage tracing is crucial for understanding cellular dynamics in development, tissue maintenance, repair, and cancer.
- Recent advances in microscopy, tissue clearing, and intravital imaging have improved cell tracking capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of traditional lineage tracing techniques.
- To describe current advanced strategies and emerging methods in cell labeling and imaging.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on lineage tracing methodologies.
- Discussion of light microscopy, two-photon microscopy, and intravital imaging.
- Exploration of genetic labeling and tissue clearing techniques.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in time-controlled genetic labeling and live imaging.
- Despite advances, challenges remain in fully deciphering stem and progenitor cell properties.
- New methods offer enhanced resolution and depth for lineage tracing.
Conclusions:
- Lineage tracing is a powerful tool for studying cell behavior across various biological processes.
- Continued innovation in labeling and imaging is essential for overcoming current limitations.
- This review highlights the evolution and future directions of lineage tracing techniques.
