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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Dissection and 2-Photon Imaging of Peripheral Lymph Nodes in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2007
Interpreting two-photon imaging data of lymphocyte motility
Michael E Meyer-Hermann1, Philip K Maini
1Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, Oxford University, 24-29 St. Giles', Oxford OX1 3LB, United Kingdom. M.Meyer-Hermann@fias.uni-frankfurt.de
Insights
Lymphocyte movement in lymph nodes follows a persistent random walk. This motility is linked to cell membrane subunit movement and suggests cells exist in a single velocity state.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Lymphocyte trafficking is crucial for immune responses.
- Previous studies characterized lymphocyte movement as random.
- Recent two-photon imaging revealed persistent directional movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To interpret new lymphocyte motility data using a theoretical model.
- To correlate cell movement with cell deformation.
- To determine the velocity distribution of lymphocytes in lymph nodes.
Main Methods:
- Development of a theoretical model for cell movement.
- Incorporation of cell membrane subunit dynamics.
- Analysis of two-photon imaging data of B and T cells.
Main Results:
- Lymphocyte movement is best described as a random walk with persistence of orientation.
- Cell elongation is consistent with motility-induced mechanisms.
- Data strongly suggest lymphocytes exist in a single velocity state with high stochasticity.
Conclusions:
- The theoretical model successfully explains observed lymphocyte motility.
- Lymphocyte movement and deformation are coupled processes.
- A single velocity state model is favored over multi-state models for lymphocyte movement.
Abstract:
Recently, using two-photon imaging it has been found that the movement of B and T cells in lymph nodes can be described by a random walk with persistence of orientation in the range of 2 minutes. We interpret this new class of lymphocyte motility data within a theoretical model. The model considers cell movement to be composed of the movement of subunits of the cell membrane. In this way movement and deformation of the cell are correlated to each other. We find that, indeed, the lymphocyte movement in lymph nodes can best be described as a random walk with persistence of orientation. The assumption of motility induced cell elongation is consistent with the data. Within the framework of our model the two-photon data suggest that T and B cells are in a single velocity state with large stochastic width. The alternative of three different velocity states with frequent changes of their state and small stochastic width is less likely. Two velocity states can be excluded.
