Immune Cell Dynamics in Living Tissues: Insights From Intravital Microscopy

Intravital microscopy has emerged as a pivotal platform for real-time visualization of immune responses at the cellular level, providing detailed insights into the dynamic behaviors of immune cells in both healthy and pathological conditions. However, linking these dynamic observations to heterogeneity at the single-cell level remains challenging because of the difficulty in identifying specific behavioral or functional states in vivo. Recent advances in microscopic techniques and image analysis have facilitated further investigation of immune cells in various organs. These advancements have not only improved the resolution of immune-cell behaviors but have also revealed novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we discuss the potential of intravital microscopy techniques and the recent advances in image-based analyses to obtain a comprehensive view of various immune cells under pathological conditions.