Moving beyond velocity: Opportunities and challenges to quantify immune cell behavior*

Abstract

The analysis of cellular behavior using intravital multi-photon microscopy has contributed substantially to our understanding of the priming and effector phases of immune responses. Yet, many questions remain unanswered and unexplored. Though advancements in intravital imaging techniques and animal models continue to drive new discoveries, continued improvements in analysis methods are needed to extract detailed information about cellular behavior. Focusing on dendritic cell (DC) and T cell interactions as an exemplar, here we discuss key limitations for intravital imaging studies and review and explore alternative approaches to quantify immune cell behavior. We touch upon current developmen..