Skip to main content

Intravital Microscopy of T–B Cell Interactions in Germinal Centers

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Germinal Centers

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1623))

Abstract

Dynamic imaging analyses of antigen-specific T–B interactions in germinal centers have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying affinity maturation and provided a wealth of information about how follicular helper T cells function in vivo. Here we describe a routine method to visualize fluorescence protein-expressing, antigen-specific T and B cells in germinal centers. The protocol for incorporating functional reporters or genetic perturbation of the T cells by retroviral transduction is also briefly described, using the FRET-based calcium reporter as an example.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Victora GD, Nussenzweig MC (2012) Germinal centers. Annu Rev Immunol 30:429–457. doi:10.1146/annurev-immunol-020711-075032

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. MacLennan IC (1994) Germinal centers. Annu Rev Immunol 12:117–139. doi:10.1146/annurev.iy.12.040194.001001

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Qi H, Liu D, Ma W, Wang Y, Yan H (2014) Bcl-6 controlled TFH polarization and memory: the known unknowns. Curr Opin Immunol 28:34–41. doi:10.1016/j.coi.2014.01.016

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Crotty S (2011) Follicular helper CD4 T cells (TFH). Annu Rev Immunol 29:621–663. doi:10.1146/annurev-immunol-031210-101400

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Garside P, Ingulli E, Merica RR, Johnson JG, Noelle RJ, Jenkins MK (1998) Visualization of specific B and T lymphocyte interactions in the lymph node. Science 281(5373):96–99

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Okada T, Miller MJ, Parker I, Krummel MF, Neighbors M, Hartley SB, O'Garra A, Cahalan MD, Cyster JG (2005) Antigen-engaged B cells undergo chemotaxis toward the T zone and form motile conjugates with helper T cells. PLoS Biol 3(6):e150. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030150

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Qi H, Cannons JL, Klauschen F, Schwartzberg PL, Germain RN (2008) SAP-controlled T-B cell interactions underlie germinal centre formation. Nature 455(7214):764–769. doi:10.1038/nature07345

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Allen CD, Okada T, Tang HL, Cyster JG (2007) Imaging of germinal center selection events during affinity maturation. Science 315(5811):528–531. doi:10.1126/science.1136736

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hauser AE, Junt T, Mempel TR, Sneddon MW, Kleinstein SH, Henrickson SE, von Andrian UH, Shlomchik MJ, Haberman AM (2007) Definition of germinal-center B cell migration in vivo reveals predominant intrazonal circulation patterns. Immunity 26(5):655–667. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2007.04.008

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Schwickert TA, Lindquist RL, Shakhar G, Livshits G, Skokos D, Kosco-Vilbois MH, Dustin ML, Nussenzweig MC (2007) In vivo imaging of germinal centres reveals a dynamic open structure. Nature 446(7131):83–87. doi:10.1038/nature05573

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Liu D, Xu H, Shih C, Wan Z, Ma X, Ma W, Luo D, Qi H (2015) T-B-cell entanglement and ICOSL-driven feed-forward regulation of germinal centre reaction. Nature 517(7533):214–218. doi:10.1038/nature13803

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gitlin AD, Shulman Z, Nussenzweig MC (2014) Clonal selection in the germinal centre by regulated proliferation and hypermutation. Nature 509(7502):637–640. doi:10.1038/nature13300

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Horikawa K, Yamada Y, Matsuda T, Kobayashi K, Hashimoto M, Matsu-ura T, Miyawaki A, Michikawa T, Mikoshiba K, Nagai T (2010) Spontaneous network activity visualized by ultrasensitive Ca2+ indicators, yellow Cameleon-Nano. Nat Methods 7(9):729–732. doi:10.1038/nmeth.1488. [pii]

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mues M, Bartholomaus I, Thestrup T, Griesbeck O, Wekerle H, Kawakami N, Krishnamoorthy G (2013) Real-time in vivo analysis of T cell activation in the central nervous system using a genetically encoded calcium indicator. Nat Med 19(6):778–783. doi:10.1038/nm.3180

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is supported in part by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No. 81330070 and 81425011). Photos of surgical procedures are courtesy of Jiacong Yan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hai Qi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Shih, C., Qi, H. (2017). Intravital Microscopy of T–B Cell Interactions in Germinal Centers. In: Calado, D. (eds) Germinal Centers. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1623. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7095-7_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7095-7_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7094-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7095-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics