Imaging Initial Ca2+ Microdomains in Primary T Cells

J Vis Exp. 2024 Oct 4:(212). doi: 10.3791/67075.

Abstract

Local, sub-second Ca2+ signals, termed Ca2+ microdomains, are highly dynamic and short-lived Ca2+ signals, which result in a global [Ca2+]i elevation and might already determine the fate of a T cell. Upon T cell receptor activation, NAADP is formed rapidly, binding to NAADP binding proteins (HN1L/JPT2, LSM12) and their respective receptors (RyR1, TPC2) sitting on intracellular Ca2+ stores, like the ER and lysosomes, and leading to subsequent release and elevation of [Ca2+]i. To capture these fast and dynamically occurring Ca2+ signals, we developed a high-resolution imaging technique using a combination of two Ca2+ indicators, Fluo-4 AM and FuraRed AM. For postprocessing, an open-source, semi-automated Ca2+ microdomain detection approach was developed based on the programming language Python. Using this workflow, we are able to reliably detect Ca2+ microdomains on a subcellular level in primary murine and human T cells in high temporal and spatial resolution fluorescence videos. This method can also be applied to other cell types, like NK cells and murine neuronal cell lines.

Publication types

  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology
  • Calcium* / analysis
  • Calcium* / metabolism
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • T-Lymphocytes* / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes* / metabolism
  • Xanthenes / chemistry

Substances

  • Calcium
  • Fluo 4
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Xanthenes
  • Fluorescent Dyes