Two-photon microscopy imaging of thy1GFP-M transgenic mice: a novel animal model to investigate brain dendritic cell subsets in vivo.

摘要: Transgenic mice expressing fluorescent proteins in specific cell populations are widely used for vivo brain studies with two-photon fluorescence (TPF) microscopy. Mice of the thy1GFP-M line have been engineered selective expression green protein (GFP) neuronal populations. Here, we report that TPF microscopy reveals, at surface these mice, also motile non-neuronal GFP+ cells. We analyzed behavior cells and characterized sections their immunophenotype. With imaging, were found meninges, subarachnoid space upper cortical layers. The striking feature was ability to move across parenchyma, exhibiting evident shape changes during scanning-like motion. In sections, immunonegative antigens recognizing such as migratory neuroblasts, glial precursors, mast cells, fibroblasts. exhibited instead characteristic features immunophenotype (CD11c major histocompatibility complex molecule class II immunopositivity) dendritic (DCs), microglial marker Iba-1. identified lymph nodes blood supporting identity DCs. Thus, has here allowed visualization first time DCs situ. results indicate mouse provides a novel animal model study subsets professional antigen-presenting brain. Information on is still very limited imaging great potential analyses DC-neuron interaction normal pathological conditions.