چکیده (انگلیسی):

Intravital imaging is becoming more popular and is being used to visualize cellular motility and
functions. In contrast to in vitro analysis, which resembles in vivo analysis, intravital imaging can be
used to observe and analyze cells directly in vivo. In this review, I will summarize recent imaging
studies of autoreactive T cell infiltration into the central nervous system (CNS) and provide technical
background. During their in vivo journey, autoreactive T cells interact with many different cells. At first,
autoreactive T cells interact with endothelial cells in the airways of the lung or with splenocytes, where
they acquire a migratory phenotype to infiltrate into the CNS. After arriving at the CNS, they interact
with endothelial cells of the leptomeningeal vessels or the choroid plexus before passing through the
bloodebrain barrier. CNS-infiltrating T cells become activated by recognizing endogenous autoantigens
presented by local antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This activation was visualized in vivo by using
protein-based sensors. One such sensor detects changes in intracellular calcium concentration as an
early marker of T cell activation. Another sensor detects translocation of Nuclear factor of activated Tcells
(NFAT) from cytosol to nucleus as a definitive sign of T cell activation. Importantly, intravital
imaging is not just used to visualize cellular behavior. Together with precise analysis, intravital imaging
deepens our knowledge of cellular functions in living organs and also provides a platform for developing
therapeutic treatments.