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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.
Insights
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.
Abstract:
In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) allows the evaluation of the living human cornea at the cellular level. The non-invasive nature of this technique longitudinal, repeated examinations of the same tissue over time. Image analysis of two-dimensional time-lapse sequences of presumed immune cells with and without visible dendrites at the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in the eyes of healthy individuals was performed. We demonstrated evidence that cells without visible dendrites are highly dynamic and move rapidly in the axial directions. A number of dynamic cells were observed and measured from three eyes of different individuals. The total average displacement and trajectory speeds of three cells without visible dendrites (N = 9) was calculated to be 1.12 ± 0.21 and 1.35 ± 0.17 μm per minute, respectively. One cell with visible dendrites per cornea was also analysed. Tracking dendritic cell dynamics in vivo has the potential to significantly advance the understanding of the human immune adaptive and innate systems. The ability to observe and quantify migration rates of immune cells in vivo is likely to reveal previously unknown insights into corneal and general pathophysiology and may serve as an effective indicator of cellular responses to intervention therapies.
