Protocol to quantify immune cell distribution from the vasculature to the glioma microenvironment on sequential immunofluorescence multiplex images

STAR Protoc. 2024 Jun 21;5(2):103079. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103079. Epub 2024 May 23.

Abstract

Although myeloid-derived immune cells can be dispersed throughout the tumor microenvironment (TME), anti-tumor effector cells are confined to the perivascular space. Here, we present a protocol to quantify immune cell distribution from tumor vasculature to its glioma microenvironment on sequential immunofluorescence multiplex images. We describe steps for sequential immunofluorescence multiplex staining, image generation, and storage. We then detail the procedures for tissue, vessel, and nuclei segmentation; cell phenotyping; data extraction; and training using RStudio and Spyder.

Keywords: Cancer; Immunology; Neuroscience.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique* / methods
  • Glioma* / blood supply
  • Glioma* / immunology
  • Glioma* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Mice
  • Tumor Microenvironment* / immunology