Live Imaging of the Skin Immune Responses

Abstract

As a barrier to the harsh environment, the skin is a key organ that protects the body from external pathogens. This protection is conferred by a diverse range of immune cells that work in concert to mount an immune response against invading pathogens. Over the last two decades, advancements in microscopic imaging systems have enabled intravital imaging to document the dynamic behavior of immune cells in cutaneous immune responses. This has provided insight into the roles that these immune cells play in the response, and this knowledge can be used in developing therapeutic strategies. In this chapter, we will review a variety of skin immune responses and their corresponding immune cell types that have been studied via the live imaging of mouse skin. In addition, we will cover the different tools that are utilized for the live imaging of skin immune responses.