Thesis

Developing systems for imaging immune responses in vivo

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2010
Thesis identifier
  • T12969
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • The kinetics and dynamics of dendritic cell (DC)-T cell interactions in the lymph node (LN) are thought to be critical in initiating and regulating immune responses in both health and disease. DCs are localised in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues and effector and memory T cells continually migrate between both sites. However, the relationship and degree of interaction between the non-lymphoid site of tissue inflammation and the draining lymph node (DLN) remains relatively uncharacterised. This thesis aimed to develop novel in vivo model systems that would allow identifiable antigen specific T cells and DCs and their interactions in the tissue site of inflammation and DLN to be imaged and characterised using multi-photon laser scanning microscopy (MPLSM). This thesis describes the development of a novel model, in which a LN is transplanted into the murine ear pinna. Analysis of the structural organisation, cellular populations and functionality of the transplanted LN (tLN) revealed that the model provides a fully functional lymphoid organ, vascular and lymphatic supply in a convenient location for in vivo MPLSM. Moreover, this thesis describes the development of an imageable site of tissue inflammation in the ear pinna, that when combined with the tLN, should facilitate future studies of DC-T cell interactions in a nonlymphoid tissue site of inflammation and its DLN, by MPLSM. Thus, the systems developed in this thesis should allow some unanswered questions to be addressed, including whether T cells require to see antigen presented by DCs at the tissue site of inflammation or back in the DLN to initiate, maintain or regulate an immune response. A better understanding of the relationship between DC-T cell interactions at the tissue site of inflammation and the DLN, will hopefully provide novel therapeutic targets in circumstances of autoimmunity and inflammatory disease and facilitate improved targeting of current therapies.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Garside, Paul
  • Brewer, James
Resource Type
DOI
Date Created
  • 2010
Former identifier
  • 870130

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