Confocal laser endomicroscopy to monitor the colonic mucosa of mice
Journal Title
Journal of Immunological Methods
Publication Type
Journal Article in press
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract is a unique organ system that provides an epithelial barrier between our underlying immune system and luminal pathogens. Disruption of gastrointestinal homeostasis, as a result of impaired barrier function, is associated with numerous pathologies including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. In parallel to the clinical development of endoscopy technologies to monitor and diagnose these pathologies in humans, advanced mouse colonoscopy techniques are being developed. When these technologies are coupled with model systems of human disease, which are essential to our understanding of the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal diseases, the requirement for euthanasia of multiple cohorts of mice is eliminated. Here we highlight the suitability of white light endoscopy to monitor the progression of colitis in mice. We further outline the experimental power of combined standard endoscopy with confocal microendoscopy, which permits visualization of fluorescent markers in a single animal in real-time. Together, these technologies will enhance our understanding of the interplay between components of the gastrointestinal microenvironment and their role in disease.
Publisher
Elsevier
Research Division(s)
Molecular Immunology; Inflammation
PubMed ID
25960174
NHMRC Grants
NHMRC/1047903
Terms of Use/Rights Notice
Refer to copyright notice on published article.


Creation Date: 2015-05-22 11:19:37
Last Modified: 2016-02-29 10:32:58
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