Open AccessIntravital imaging of a pulmonary endothelial surface layer in a murine sepsis model
Author(s) -
Inwon Park,
Kibaek Choe,
Hyun-Ji Seo,
Yoonha Hwang,
Eunjoo Song,
JoongHo Ahn,
You Hwan Jo,
Pilhan Kim
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
biomedical optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.362
H-Index - 86
ISSN - 2156-7085
DOI - 10.1364/boe.9.002383
Subject(s) - pathology , microcirculation , in vivo , endothelium , endothelial stem cell , medicine , sepsis , lung , vascular permeability , intravital microscopy , preclinical imaging , biomedical engineering , chemistry , radiology , biology , immunology , in vitro , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Direct intravital imaging of an endothelial surface layer (ESL) in pulmonary microcirculation could be a valuable approach to investigate the role of a vascular endothelial barrier in various pathological conditions. Despite its importance as a marker of endothelial cell damage and impairment of the vascular system, in vivo visualization of ESL has remained a challenging technical issue. In this work, we implemented a pulmonary microcirculation imaging system integrated to a custom-design video-rate laser scanning confocal microscopy platform. Using the system, a real-time cellular-level microscopic imaging of the lung was successfully performed, which facilitated a clear identification of individual flowing erythrocytes in pulmonary capillaries. Subcellular level pulmonary ESL was identified in vivo by fluorescence angiography using a dextran conjugated fluorophore to label blood plasma and the red blood cell (RBC) exclusion imaging analysis. Degradation of ESL width was directly evaluated in a murine sepsis model in vivo , suggesting an impairment of pulmonary vascular endothelium and endothelial barrier dysfunction.