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Arizono M, Idziak A, Quici F, Nägerl UV. Getting sharper: the brain under the spotlight of super-resolution microscopy. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:148-161. [PMID: 35906123 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Brain cells such as neurons and astrocytes exhibit an extremely elaborate morphology, and their functional specializations like synapses and glial processes often fall below the resolution limit of conventional light microscopy. This is a huge obstacle for neurobiologists because the nanoarchitecture critically shapes fundamental functions like synaptic transmission and Ca2+ signaling. Super-resolution microscopy can overcome this problem, offering the chance to visualize the structural and molecular organization of brain cells in a living and dynamic tissue context, unlike traditional methods like electron microscopy or atomic force microscopy. This review covers the basic principles of the main super-resolution microscopy techniques in use today and explains how their specific strengths can illuminate the nanoscale mechanisms that govern brain physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misa Arizono
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux and CNRS, Bordeaux, France; Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Agata Idziak
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux and CNRS, Bordeaux, France
| | - Federica Quici
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux and CNRS, Bordeaux, France
| | - U Valentin Nägerl
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, University of Bordeaux and CNRS, Bordeaux, France.
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2
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Albrecht NE, Jiang D, Akhanov V, Hobson R, Speer CM, Robichaux MA, Samuel MA. Rapid 3D-STORM imaging of diverse molecular targets in tissue. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2022; 2:100253. [PMID: 35880013 PMCID: PMC9308169 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fine-scale molecular architecture is critical for nervous system and other biological functions. Methods to visualize these nanoscale structures would benefit from enhanced accessibility, throughput, and tissue compatibility. Here, we report RAIN-STORM, a rapid and scalable nanoscopic imaging optimization approach that improves three-dimensional visualization for subcellular targets in tissue at depth. RAIN-STORM uses conventional tissue samples and readily available reagents and is suitable for commercial instrumentation. To illustrate the efficacy of RAIN-STORM, we utilized the retina. We show that RAIN-STORM imaging is versatile and provide 3D nanoscopic data for over 20 synapse, neuron, glia, and vasculature targets. Sample preparation is also rapid, with a 1-day turnaround from tissue to image, and parameters are suitable for multiple tissue sources. Finally, we show that this method can be applied to clinical samples to reveal nanoscale features of human cells and synapses. RAIN-STORM thus paves the way for high-throughput studies of nanoscopic targets in tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas E. Albrecht
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Danye Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Viktor Akhanov
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert Hobson
- Bruker Nano Surfaces Division, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
| | - Colenso M. Speer
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Michael A. Robichaux
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Melanie A. Samuel
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Murar M, Albertazzi L, Pujals S. Advanced Optical Imaging-Guided Nanotheranostics towards Personalized Cancer Drug Delivery. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:399. [PMID: 35159744 PMCID: PMC8838478 DOI: 10.3390/nano12030399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nanomedicine involves the use of nanotechnology for clinical applications and holds promise to improve treatments. Recent developments offer new hope for cancer detection, prevention and treatment; however, being a heterogenous disorder, cancer calls for a more targeted treatment approach. Personalized Medicine (PM) aims to revolutionize cancer therapy by matching the most effective treatment to individual patients. Nanotheranostics comprise a combination of therapy and diagnostic imaging incorporated in a nanosystem and are developed to fulfill the promise of PM by helping in the selection of treatments, the objective monitoring of response and the planning of follow-up therapy. Although well-established imaging techniques, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), are primarily used in the development of theranostics, Optical Imaging (OI) offers some advantages, such as high sensitivity, spatial and temporal resolution and less invasiveness. Additionally, it allows for multiplexing, using multi-color imaging and DNA barcoding, which further aids in the development of personalized treatments. Recent advances have also given rise to techniques permitting better penetration, opening new doors for OI-guided nanotheranostics. In this review, we describe in detail these recent advances that may be used to design and develop efficient and specific nanotheranostics for personalized cancer drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura Murar
- Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.M.); (L.A.)
| | - Lorenzo Albertazzi
- Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.M.); (L.A.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Silvia Pujals
- Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.M.); (L.A.)
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Abstract
Fluorescence imaging techniques play a pivotal role in our understanding of the nervous system. The emergence of various super-resolution microscopy methods and specialized fluorescent probes enables direct insight into neuronal structure and protein arrangements in cellular subcompartments with so far unmatched resolution. Super-resolving visualization techniques in neurons unveil a novel understanding of cytoskeletal composition, distribution, motility, and signaling of membrane proteins, subsynaptic structure and function, and neuron-glia interaction. Well-defined molecular targets in autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease models provide excellent starting points for in-depth investigation of disease pathophysiology using novel and innovative imaging methodology. Application of super-resolution microscopy in human brain samples and for testing clinical biomarkers is still in its infancy but opens new opportunities for translational research in neurology and neuroscience. In this review, we describe how super-resolving microscopy has improved our understanding of neuronal and brain function and dysfunction in the last two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Werner
- Department of Biotechnology & Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology & Biophysics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Geis
- Section Translational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
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Nosov G, Kahms M, Klingauf J. The Decade of Super-Resolution Microscopy of the Presynapse. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2020; 12:32. [PMID: 32848695 PMCID: PMC7433402 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The presynaptic compartment of the chemical synapse is a small, yet extremely complex structure. Considering its size, most methods of optical microscopy are not able to resolve its nanoarchitecture and dynamics. Thus, its ultrastructure could only be studied by electron microscopy. In the last decade, new methods of optical superresolution microscopy have emerged allowing the study of cellular structures and processes at the nanometer scale. While this is a welcome addition to the experimental arsenal, it has necessitated careful analysis and interpretation to ensure the data obtained remains artifact-free. In this article we review the application of nanoscopic techniques to the study of the synapse and the progress made over the last decade with a particular focus on the presynapse. We find to our surprise that progress has been limited, calling for imaging techniques and probes that allow dense labeling, multiplexing, longer imaging times, higher temporal resolution, while at least maintaining the spatial resolution achieved thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgii Nosov
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,CIM-IMPRS Graduate Program in Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Kahms
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jurgen Klingauf
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Heller JP, Odii T, Zheng K, Rusakov DA. Imaging tripartite synapses using super-resolution microscopy. Methods 2020; 174:81-90. [PMID: 31153907 PMCID: PMC7144327 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroglia are vital facilitators of brain development, homeostasis, and metabolic support. In addition, they are also essential to the formation and regulation of synaptic circuits. Due to the extraordinary complex, nanoscopic morphology of astrocytes, the underlying cellular mechanisms have been poorly understood. In particular, fine astrocytic processes that can be found in the vicinity of synapses have been difficult to study using traditional imaging techniques. Here, we describe a 3D three-colour super-resolution microscopy approach to unravel the nanostructure of tripartite synapses. The method is based on the SMLM technique direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) which uses conventional fluorophore-labelled antibodies. This approach enables reconstructing the nanoscale localisation of individual astrocytic glutamate transporter (GLT-1) molecules surrounding presynaptic (bassoon) and postsynaptic (Homer1) protein localisations in fixed mouse brain sections. However, the technique is readily adaptable to other types of targets and tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janosch Peter Heller
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; FutureNeuro Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Tuamoru Odii
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, PMB 1010 Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Kaiyu Zheng
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dmitri A Rusakov
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Yokel RA. Nanoparticle brain delivery: a guide to verification methods. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2020; 15:409-432. [DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2019-0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Many reports conclude nanoparticle (NP) brain entry based on bulk brain analysis. Bulk brain includes blood, cerebrospinal fluid and blood vessels within the brain contributing to the blood–brain and blood–cerebrospinal fluid barriers. Considering the brain as neurons, glia and their extracellular space (brain parenchyma), most studies did not show brain parenchymal NP entry. Blood–brain and blood–cerebrospinal fluid barriers anatomy and function are reviewed. Methods demonstrating brain parenchymal NP entry are presented. Results demonstrating bulk brain versus brain parenchymal entry are classified. Studies are reviewed, critiqued and classified to illustrate results demonstrating bulk brain versus parenchymal entry. Brain, blood and peripheral organ NP timecourses are compared and related to brain parenchymal entry evidence suggesting brain NP timecourse informs about brain parenchymal entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Yokel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0596, USA
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8
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Badawi Y, Nishimune H. Super-resolution microscopy for analyzing neuromuscular junctions and synapses. Neurosci Lett 2020; 715:134644. [PMID: 31765730 PMCID: PMC6937598 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Super-resolution microscopy techniques offer subdiffraction limited resolution that is two- to ten-fold improved compared to that offered by conventional confocal microscopy. This breakthrough in resolution for light microscopy has contributed to new findings in neuroscience and synapse biology. This review will focus on the Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM), Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, and Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) / Single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) techniques and compare them for the better understanding of their differences and their suitability for the analysis of synapse biology. In addition, we will discuss a few practical aspects of these microscopic techniques, including resolution, image acquisition speed, multicolor capability, and other advantages and disadvantages. Tips for the improvement of microscopy will be introduced; for example, information resources for recommended dyes, the limitations of multicolor analysis, and capabilities for live imaging. In addition, we will summarize how super-resolution microscopy has been used for analyses of neuromuscular junctions and synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yomna Badawi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Hiroshi Nishimune
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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MemBright: A Family of Fluorescent Membrane Probes for Advanced Cellular Imaging and Neuroscience. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 26:600-614.e7. [PMID: 30745238 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The proper staining of the plasma membrane (PM) is critical in bioimaging as it delimits the cell. Herein, we developed MemBright, a family of six cyanine-based fluorescent turn-on PM probes that emit from orange to near infrared when reaching the PM, and enable homogeneous and selective PM staining with excellent contrast in mono- and two-photon microscopy. These probes are compatible with long-term live-cell imaging and immunostaining. Moreover, MemBright label neurons in a brighter manner than surrounding cells, allowing identification of neurons in acute brain tissue sections and neuromuscular junctions without any use of transfection or transgenic animals. In addition, MemBright probes were used in super-resolution imaging to unravel the neck of dendritic spines. 3D multicolor dSTORM in combination with immunostaining revealed en-passant synapse displaying endogenous glutamate receptors clustered at the axonal-dendritic contact site. MemBright probes thus constitute a universal toolkit for cell biology and neuroscience biomembrane imaging with a variety of microscopy techniques. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Heller JP, Rusakov DA. A Method to Visualize the Nanoscopic Morphology of Astrocytes In Vitro and In Situ. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1938:69-84. [PMID: 30617973 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9068-9_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
In recent years it has become apparent that astroglia are not only essential players in brain development, homeostasis, and metabolic support but are also important for the formation and regulation of synaptic circuits. Fine astrocytic processes that can be found in the vicinity of synapses undergo considerable structural plasticity associated with age- and use-dependent changes in neural circuitries. However, due to the extraordinary complex, essentially nanoscopic morphology of astroglia, the underlying cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood.Here we detail a super-resolution microscopy approach, based on the single-molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) technique direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) to visualize astroglial morphology on the nanoscale. This approach enables visualization of key morphological changes that occur in nanoscopic astrocyte processes, whose characteristic size falls below the diffraction limit of conventional optical microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janosch P Heller
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, UK.
| | - Dmitri A Rusakov
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, UK.
- Laboratory of Brain Microcircuits, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
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Shashkova S, Leake MC. Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy review: shedding new light on old problems. Biosci Rep 2017; 37:BSR20170031. [PMID: 28694303 PMCID: PMC5520217 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20170031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 07/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence microscopy is an invaluable tool in the biosciences, a genuine workhorse technique offering exceptional contrast in conjunction with high specificity of labelling with relatively minimal perturbation to biological samples compared with many competing biophysical techniques. Improvements in detector and dye technologies coupled to advances in image analysis methods have fuelled recent development towards single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, which can utilize light microscopy tools to enable the faithful detection and analysis of single fluorescent molecules used as reporter tags in biological samples. For example, the discovery of GFP, initiating the so-called 'green revolution', has pushed experimental tools in the biosciences to a completely new level of functional imaging of living samples, culminating in single fluorescent protein molecule detection. Today, fluorescence microscopy is an indispensable tool in single-molecule investigations, providing a high signal-to-noise ratio for visualization while still retaining the key features in the physiological context of native biological systems. In this review, we discuss some of the recent discoveries in the life sciences which have been enabled using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, paying particular attention to the so-called 'super-resolution' fluorescence microscopy techniques in live cells, which are at the cutting-edge of these methods. In particular, how these tools can reveal new insights into long-standing puzzles in biology: old problems, which have been impossible to tackle using other more traditional tools until the emergence of new single-molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sviatlana Shashkova
- Department of Physics, Biological Physical Sciences Institute (BPSI), University of York, York YO10 5DD, U.K
- Department of Biology, Biological Physical Sciences Institute (BPSI), University of York, York YO10 5DD, U.K
| | - Mark C Leake
- Department of Physics, Biological Physical Sciences Institute (BPSI), University of York, York YO10 5DD, U.K.
- Department of Biology, Biological Physical Sciences Institute (BPSI), University of York, York YO10 5DD, U.K
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