Abstract

Lung efficiency as gas exchanger organ is based on the delicate balance of its associated mucosal immune system between inflammation and sterility. In this study, we developed a dynamic imaging protocol using confocal and two-photon excitation fluorescence (2PEF) on freshly harvested infected lungs. This modus operandi allowed the collection of important information about CX3CR1⁺ pulmonary cells. This major immune cell subset turned out to be distributed in an anisotropic way in the lungs: subpleural, parenchymal and bronchial CX3CR1⁺ cells have then been described. The way parenchymal CX3CR1⁺ cells react against LPS activation has been considered using Matlab software, demonstrating a dramatic increase of average cell speed. Then, interactions between Bacillus anthracis spores and CX3CR1⁺ dendritic cells have been investigated, providing not only evidences of CX3CR1⁺ cells involvement in pathogen uptake but also details about the capture mechanisms.

© 2011 OSA/SPIE