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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Light-sheet Microscopy for Three-dimensional Visualization of Human Immune Cells
Published on: June 13, 2018
3D and 4D imaging of immune cells in vitro and in vivo
Cindy Nitschke1, Alexandre Garin, Marie Kosco-Vilbois
1Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
Insights
Intravital 2-photon microscopy revolutionizes immunology, offering real-time insights into cellular immune responses. This technique, termed "dynamic histology," reveals how immune cells function in living organisms.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Microscopy
Background:
- Cellular immune response analysis has a long history in immunology.
- The advent of intravital 2-photon microscopy has dramatically increased the number of studies in this field.
- New discoveries regarding cellular immunity are constantly emerging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of current intravital 2-photon microscopy techniques for immunological research.
- To discuss the challenges and potential of this imaging modality.
- To highlight key findings from the initial 6 years of its application in immunology.
Main Methods:
- Intravital 2-photon microscopy for live imaging of immune cells.
- Experimental methodologies for studying cellular immunity in vivo.
- Review of existing literature and techniques.
Main Results:
- Significant advancements in understanding immune cell dynamics in real-time.
- Demonstration of "dynamic histology" as a powerful approach.
- Broadened perspective on immune cell behavior in physiological contexts.
Conclusions:
- Intravital 2-photon microscopy is a transformative tool in immunology.
- The technique provides unprecedented views into the "real life" behavior of immune cells.
- Continued application promises further expansion of our knowledge of immune responses.
Abstract:
Analyzing the dynamics of cellular immune responses, although performed for decades in immunologic research, has seen an enormous increase in the number of studies using this approach since the development of intravital 2-photon microscopy. Meanwhile, new insights into the dynamics of cellular immunity are being published on a daily basis. This review gives a short overview of the currently most widely used techniques, both on the microscopy side as well as on the experimental part. Difficulties and promises will be discussed. Finally, a personal selection of the most interesting findings of the first 6 years of intravital 2-photon microscopy for immunological questions will be given. The overall aim is to get the reader interested into this fascinating way of investigating the immune response by means of "dynamic histology". This already has and will continue to broaden our view on how immune cells work in real life.
