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In vivo immune cell dynamics in the human cornea
Luisa H Colorado1, Katie Edwards1, Holly R Chinnery2
1Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4069, Australia.
Experimental Eye Research
|August 27, 2020
Summary
In vivo confocal microscopy reveals dynamic immune cell movement in the human cornea. This non-invasive technique tracks cell migration, offering insights into immune responses and corneal health.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) enables cellular-level evaluation of the living human cornea.
- Its non-invasive nature allows for longitudinal, repeated examinations of corneal tissue.
- Understanding immune cell behavior in the cornea is crucial for diagnosing and treating ocular conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the dynamics and movement patterns of presumed immune cells in the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus using IVCM.
- To quantify the migration rates of immune cells with and without visible dendrites in healthy individuals.
- To explore the potential of tracking in vivo immune cell dynamics for understanding corneal pathophysiology and therapeutic responses.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two-dimensional time-lapse sequences from IVCM of healthy human corneas.
- Performed image analysis on presumed immune cells, differentiating between those with and without visible dendrites.
- Measured total average displacement and trajectory speeds of identified immune cells.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that immune cells without visible dendrites exhibit high dynamism and rapid axial movement.
- Calculated average displacement and trajectory speeds for cells without dendrites (N=9) as 1.12 ± 0.21 and 1.35 ± 0.17 μm/min, respectively.
- Analyzed the dynamics of one dendritic cell per cornea.
Conclusions:
- Tracking dendritic cell dynamics in vivo significantly advances understanding of human innate and adaptive immune systems.
- Quantifying in vivo immune cell migration rates provides novel insights into corneal pathophysiology.
- This approach may serve as an effective indicator of cellular responses to intervention therapies.
