Autoaggressive effector T cells in the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis visualized in the light of two-photon microscopy

Two photon microscopy (TPM) recently emerged as optical tool for the visualization of immune processes hundreds of micrometers deep in living tissue and organs. Here we summarize recent work on exploiting this technology to study brain antigen specific T cells. These cells are the cause of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) an autoimmune disease model of Multiple Sclerosis. TPM studies elucidated the dynamics of the autoaggressive effector T cells in peripheral immune milieus during preclinical EAE, where the cells become reprogrammed to enter their target organ. These studies revealed an unexpectedly lively locomotion behavior of the cells interrupted only by short-lasting contacts with the local immune stroma. Live T cell behavior was furthermore studied within the acutely inflamed CNS. Two distinct migratory patterns of the T cells were found: the majority of cells (60–70%) moved fast and seemingly unhindered through the compact CNS parenchyma. The motility of the other cell fraction was highly confined. The cells swung around a fixed cell pole forming long-lasting contacts to putative local antigen presenting cells.