Figure 2.

TPLSM imaging of autoreactive T cells interacting with perivascular MHC-II⁺ APCs in the exposed spinal cord during EAE. TPLSM was performed in MHC-II-GFP transgenic mice to visualize perivascular APCs (green) in contact with autoreactive T cells (blue). In order to investigate the types of APCs that can establish contacts with T cells, perivascular phagocytes were identified by intrathecally infused Texas Red-tagged dextran in MHC-II-GFP transgenic mice. These cells were located strategically around vessels, monitoring the environment with their cellular processes and sharing some morphological features with DCs, and others with macrophages. The merge of Texas Red and GFP positive cells provided evidence that perivascular phagocytes are functional APCs, expressing MHC-II determinants. The figure is original. Scale bar = 50 micron.