Bringing Immunity to Light: The Power of Intravital Microscopy in Inflammation, Infection, and Cancer

Please join us on Friday, February 7, at 13:00 CET, for the Virtual Pub. We welcome Hellen Ishikawa-Ankerhold, LMU Klinikum-Munich, for a talk entitled, "Bringing Immunity to Light: The Power of Intravital Microscopy in Inflammation, Infection, and Cancer" Everyone is welcome!

This event is followed by the Tech Exchange at 14:00 CET.

Abstract:

In this talk, I will provide an overview of intravital microscopy (IVM) as a cutting-edge imaging technique that enables real-time observation of cellular interactions within living organisms. I will discuss its advantages, limitations, and the technological advancements that make it an indispensable tool in biomedical research.

In the second part of the talk, I will introduce various murine intravital microscopy models that we have developed to gain deeper insights into both human disease and physiological immune function. These models allow us to investigate immune cell behavior in a range of tissues and organ systems under native and pathological conditions.

Finally, I will present a recent study on leukocyte trafficking in inflammation, infection, and cancer metastasis, showcasing how intravital microscopy provides high-resolution spatial and temporal insights into immune dynamics. By leveraging multiphoton intravital microscopy (MP-IVM), we achieve deep tissue imaging with minimal phototoxicity, reduced photo-bleaching, and enhanced fluorescence signal quality.

MP-IVM has become a gold standard for studying immune responses in vivo, particularly when combined with transgenic mouse models. Our research focuses on leukocyte migration, thrombosis, and tumor metastasis across various organ systems, including the skin, brain, spleen, bone marrow, liver, carotid artery, gastric mucosa, and visceral adipose tissue. By integrating state-of-the-art imaging with newly developed murine models, we aim to unravel the complex multicellular interactions that drive inflammation, infection, and cancer progression. Understanding these processes at a fundamental level is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases, immune disorders, and metastatic cancer.