Abstract
Immunological inductive tissues, such as secondary lymphoid organs, are composed of distinct anatomical microenvironments for the generation of immune responses to pathogens and immunogens. These microenvironments are characterized by the compartmentalization of highly specialized immune and stromal cell populations, as well as the presence of a complex network of soluble factors and chemokines that direct the intra-tissue trafficking of naïve and effector cell populations. Imaging platforms have provided critical contextual information regarding the molecular and cellular interactions that orchestrate the spatial microanatomy of relevant cells and the development of immune responses against pathogens. Particularly in HIV/SIV disease, imaging technologies are of great importance in the investigation of the local interplay between the virus and host cells, with respect to understanding viral dynamics and persistence, immune responses (i.e., adaptive and innate inflammatory responses), tissue structure and pathologies, and changes to the surrounding milieu and function of immune cells. Merging imaging platforms with other cutting-edge technologies could lead to novel findings regarding the phenotype, function, and molecular signatures of particular immune cell targets, further promoting the development of new antiviral treatments and vaccination strategies.
Highlights
Investigation of the human immune system in the context of infectious diseases has been accomplished primarily based on studies utilizing circulating cells
Use of such biological material may not capture the in vivo timing or mechanisms governing the initiation and development of immune responses to pathogens at important anatomical sites, such as secondary lymphoid organs, mucosalassociated lymphoid tissues (MALTs), and mucosae
Secondary lymphoid organs and MALT create an extended tissue network that provides a unique microenvironment for pathogen capture, antigen presentation, and induction of adaptive immune responses [21,22,23]
Summary
Investigation of the human immune system in the context of infectious diseases has been accomplished primarily based on studies utilizing circulating cells Use of such biological material may not capture the in vivo timing or mechanisms governing the initiation and development of immune responses to pathogens at important anatomical sites, such as secondary lymphoid organs, mucosalassociated lymphoid tissues (MALTs), and mucosae. The application of multidimensional methodologies, like polyparametric flow cytometry, has provided critical information regarding the phenotype and functionality of tissue-resident immune cells, especially T and B cells [1,2,3,4,5] Despite their analytical power, these methodologies cannot address the tissue distribution/localization of lymphoid populations in vivo, as well as the anatomical context in which their highly dynamic interactions occur. The application of cutting-edge imaging technologies can provide substantial novel insights into host–pathogen interactions that are not feasible with other approaches (Table 1), which may be critical for the development of vaccines, especially those aiming to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies, as well as for the discovery of novel immunotherapy targets to eliminate HIV
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