Tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near-infrared cell membrane label.

We describe a novel photoconversion technique to track individual cells in vivo using a commercial lipophilic membrane dye, DiR. We show that DiR exhibits a permanent fluorescence emission shift (photoconversion) after light exposure and does not reacquire the original color over time. Ratiometric i...

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Main Authors: Alicia L Carlson, Joji Fujisaki, Juwell Wu, Judith M Runnels, Raphaël Turcotte, Joel A Spencer, Cristina Lo Celso, David T Scadden, Terry B Strom, Charles P Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0069257&type=printable
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author Alicia L Carlson
Joji Fujisaki
Juwell Wu
Judith M Runnels
Raphaël Turcotte
Joel A Spencer
Cristina Lo Celso
David T Scadden
Terry B Strom
Charles P Lin
author_facet Alicia L Carlson
Joji Fujisaki
Juwell Wu
Judith M Runnels
Raphaël Turcotte
Joel A Spencer
Cristina Lo Celso
David T Scadden
Terry B Strom
Charles P Lin
author_sort Alicia L Carlson
collection DOAJ
description We describe a novel photoconversion technique to track individual cells in vivo using a commercial lipophilic membrane dye, DiR. We show that DiR exhibits a permanent fluorescence emission shift (photoconversion) after light exposure and does not reacquire the original color over time. Ratiometric imaging can be used to distinguish photoconverted from non-converted cells with high sensitivity. Combining the use of this photoconvertible dye with intravital microscopy, we tracked the division of individual hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells within the calvarium bone marrow of live mice. We also studied the peripheral differentiation of individual T cells by tracking the gain or loss of FoxP3-GFP expression, a marker of the immune suppressive function of CD4(+) T cells. With the near-infrared photoconvertible membrane dye, the entire visible spectral range is available for simultaneous use with other fluorescent proteins to monitor gene expression or to trace cell lineage commitment in vivo with high spatial and temporal resolution.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-a13444ed0e004c2ebba7a256bb3b4ef62025-08-20T02:22:45ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0188e6925710.1371/journal.pone.0069257Tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near-infrared cell membrane label.Alicia L CarlsonJoji FujisakiJuwell WuJudith M RunnelsRaphaël TurcotteJoel A SpencerCristina Lo CelsoDavid T ScaddenTerry B StromCharles P LinWe describe a novel photoconversion technique to track individual cells in vivo using a commercial lipophilic membrane dye, DiR. We show that DiR exhibits a permanent fluorescence emission shift (photoconversion) after light exposure and does not reacquire the original color over time. Ratiometric imaging can be used to distinguish photoconverted from non-converted cells with high sensitivity. Combining the use of this photoconvertible dye with intravital microscopy, we tracked the division of individual hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells within the calvarium bone marrow of live mice. We also studied the peripheral differentiation of individual T cells by tracking the gain or loss of FoxP3-GFP expression, a marker of the immune suppressive function of CD4(+) T cells. With the near-infrared photoconvertible membrane dye, the entire visible spectral range is available for simultaneous use with other fluorescent proteins to monitor gene expression or to trace cell lineage commitment in vivo with high spatial and temporal resolution.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0069257&type=printable
spellingShingle Alicia L Carlson
Joji Fujisaki
Juwell Wu
Judith M Runnels
Raphaël Turcotte
Joel A Spencer
Cristina Lo Celso
David T Scadden
Terry B Strom
Charles P Lin
Tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near-infrared cell membrane label.
PLoS ONE
title Tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near-infrared cell membrane label.
title_full Tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near-infrared cell membrane label.
title_fullStr Tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near-infrared cell membrane label.
title_full_unstemmed Tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near-infrared cell membrane label.
title_short Tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near-infrared cell membrane label.
title_sort tracking single cells in live animals using a photoconvertible near infrared cell membrane label
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0069257&type=printable
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