An optical system for noninvasive microscopy of psoriatic mice in vivo

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Immunology
• Biomedical Optics

Background:

• Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with complex immune system involvement.
• Current diagnostic and research methods for psoriasis often rely on invasive biopsies, limiting real-time in vivo observation.
• Understanding the dynamic interplay of immune cells and cytokines is crucial for psoriasis research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a noninvasive microscopic system for real-time in vivo imaging of immune processes in psoriasis.
• To visualize the dynamics of specific immune cells and cytokines in blood flow during psoriasis development.
• To provide a novel tool for advancing medical research on psoriasis.

Main Methods:

• Development of a noninvasive microscopic system integrating in vivo fluorescent microscopy and optical clearing.
• Application of immunolabeling techniques for visualizing specific molecules and cells.
• Real-time, time-lapse imaging of vascular morphology and immune cell kinetics in psoriatic animal models.

Main Results:

• The system enabled submicron resolution imaging through thickened epidermis and opaque scales in vivo.
• Captured real-time kinetics of interleukin-23, interleukin-17, tumor necrosis factor-α, and CD4+ cells in blood flow.
• Demonstrated that interleukin-23 recruits CD4+ cells, leading to interleukin-17 release and subsequent leakage into psoriatic skin.

Conclusions:

• The developed optical system offers noninvasive, real-time assessment of immune molecules and cells in vivo.
• This technology provides significant potential for advancing psoriasis research and understanding disease mechanisms.
• The findings highlight a potential pathway involving IL-23 and IL-17 in psoriasis pathogenesis.