Intravital correlated microscopy reveals differential macrophage and microglial dynamics during resolution of neuroinflammation

Many brain diseases involve activation of resident and peripheral immune cells to clear damaged and dying neurons. Which immune cells respond in what way to cues related to brain disease, however, remains poorly understood. To elucidate these in vivo immunological events in response to brain cell death we used genetically targeted cell ablation in zebrafish. Using intravital microscopy and large-scale electron microscopy, we defined the kinetics and nature of immune responses immediately following injury. Initially, clearance of dead cells occurs by mononuclear phagocytes, including resident microglia and macrophages of peripheral origin, whereas amoeboid microglia are exclusively involved at a later stage. Granulocytes, on the other hand, do not migrate towards the injury. Remarkably, following clearance, phagocyte numbers decrease, partly by phagocyte cell death and subsequent engulfment of phagocyte corpses by microglia. Here, we identify differential temporal involvement of microglia and peripheral macrophages in clearance of dead cells in the brain, revealing the chronological sequence of events in neuroinflammatory resolution. Remarkably, recruited phagocytes undergo cell death and are engulfed by microglia. Because adult zebrafish treated at the larval stage lack signs of pathology, it is likely that this mode of resolving immune responses in brain contributes to full tissue recovery. Therefore, these findings suggest that control of such immune cell behavior could benefit recovery from neuronal damage.</p

Intravital correlated microscopy reveals differential macrophage and microglial dynamics during resolution of neuroinflammation

Many brain diseases involve activation of resident and peripheral immune cells to clear damaged and dying neurons. Which immune cells respond in what way to cues related to brain disease, however, remains poorly understood. To elucidate these in vivo immunological events in response to brain cell death we used genetically targeted cell ablation in zebrafish. Using intravital microscopy and large-scale electron microscopy, we defined the kinetics and nature of immune responses immediately following injury. Initially, clearance of dead cells occurs by mononuclear phagocytes, including resident microglia and macrophages of peripheral origin, whereas amoeboid microglia are exclusively involved at a later stage. Granulocytes, on the other hand, do not migrate towards the injury. Remarkably, following clearance, phagocyte numbers decrease, partly by phagocyte cell death and subsequent engulfment of phagocyte corpses by microglia. Here, we identify differential temporal involvement of microglia and peripheral macrophages in clearance of dead cells in the brain, revealing the chronological sequence of events in neuroinflammatory resolution. Remarkably, recruited phagocytes undergo cell death and are engulfed by microglia. Because adult zebrafish treated at the larval stage lack signs of pathology, it is likely that this mode of resolving immune responses in brain contributes to full tissue recovery. Therefore, these findings suggest that control of such immune cell behavior could benefit recovery from neuronal damage

Method for calculating true values on factors for computing control chart lines at Quality Control

textabstractUltrastructural examination of cells and tissues by electron microscopy (EM) yields detailed information on subcellular structures. However, EM is typically restricted to small fields of view at high magnification; this makes quantifying events in multiple large-area sample sections extremely difficult. Even when combining light microscopy (LM) with EM (correlated LM and EM: CLEM) to find areas of interest, the labeling of molecules is still a challenge. We present a new genetically encoded probe for CLEM, named “FLIPPER”, which facilitates quantitative analysis of ultrastructural features in cells. FLIPPER consists of a fluorescent protein (cyan, green, orange, or red) for LM visualization, fused to a peroxidase allowing visualization of targets at the EM level. The use of FLIPPER is straightforward and because the module is completely genetically encoded, cells can be optimally prepared for EM examination. We use FLIPPER to quantify cellular morphology at the EM level in cells expressing a normal and disease-causing point-mutant cell-surface protein called EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule). The mutant protein is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and could therefore alter ER function and morphology. To reveal possible ER alterations, cells were co-transfected with color-coded full-length or mutant EpCAM and a FLIPPER targeted to the ER. CLEM examination of the mixed cell population allowed color-based cell identification, followed by an unbiased quantitative analysis of the ER ultrastructure by EM. Thus, FLIPPER combines bright fluorescent proteins optimized for live imaging with high sensitivity for EM labeling, thereby representing a promising tool for CLEM

Spumiform capillary basement membrane swelling:a new type of microvascular degeneration in senescent hamster

<p>Brain microvasculature plays a critical role in the regulation of homeostasis of neural tissues. The present study focuses on characteristic microvascular basement membrane (bm) aberrations in the midbrain periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) and their relation to aging. The PAG can be considered a caudal extension of the limbic system and is a key structure in the regulation of a myriad of autonomic and motor control functions. In an ultrastructural study, morphologic changes in mesencephalic PAG capillaries were assessed in aged and young hamster and compared with those in caudal brainstem areas. Bm aberrations were studied in 1200 capillaries (n = 600 young hamsters; n = 600 aged hamsters). A new, never reported variant of bm degeneration was found that presented itself as foamy-like structures accumulating within the lamina densa of notably PAG capillaries. We classified these foamy structures as 'spumiform basement membrane degenerations' (sbmd) in which we could distinguish 4 stages depending on the size and intramembranous localization, ranging from split bm (stage I), intermediate stages II and III, to extensive stage IV, affecting almost the complete capillary bm outline. In the PAG of senescent animals various stages of sbmd were observed in 92 +/- 3% of all capillaries. Stage II was most prominently present (59%), followed by stage III (20%), and stage IV (13%). These bm aberrations were clearly age-dependent because in young animals, only 5% of the PAG capillaries showed characteristics of sbmd. For comparison, in the pontine reticular formation at the PAG-level, 41% of the capillaries showed a form of sbmd, but these defects were significantly less severe (stages I-II, 98%), and caudal brainstem structures displayed no sbmd at all. In addition to sbmd, diffuse endothelial changes, disrupted tight junctions, thickening of the bm, pericyte degeneration, and gliosis were observed in PAG capillaries. It is hypothesized that selective bm permeability of PAG capillaries results in a sequence of bm damage events that start with split bm, gradually changing into more and more extensive sbmd accumulations that eventually almost completely surround the capillary. Progressive sbmd in PAG capillaries might lead to a loss of blood-brain barrier function and consequently to impairment of autonomic and motor control functions exerted by the PAG. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</p>

Absence of cell-surface EpCAM in congenital tufting enteropathy

<p>Mutations in the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM; CD326) gene are causal for congenital tufting enteropathy (CTE), a disease characterized by intestinal abnormalities resulting in lethal diarrhea in newborns. Why the different mutations all lead to the same disease is not clear. Here, we report that most mutations, including a novel intronic variant, will result in lack of EpCAMs transmembrane domain, whereas two mutations allow transmembrane localization. We find that these mutants are not routed to the plasma membrane, and that truncated mutants are secreted or degraded. Thus, all epcam mutations lead to loss of cell-surface EpCAM, resulting in CTE.</p>