confocal laser scanning microscope

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 470462396

The German Heart Center Munich is an internationally renowned cardiovascular institution for both basic science and patient care. The basic research laboratories explore new mechanisms in the development of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, both leading causes of death worldwide. Our research aims to identify novel therapeutic targets to ultimately reduce mortality and morbidity of patients with atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. One methodology that is essential for our research is imaging provided by microscopy which helps us to examine molecular processes and to precisely locate them in given tissues. Conventional microcopy allows to magnify and hence visualize objects that are below the resolution range of the human eye. Confocal laser scanning microscopy is an advanced microscopy technique that uses point illumination and a spatial pinhole to eliminate out-of-focus light. In comparison to conventional microcopy, it increases optical resolution and contrast of an objective of interest. Further, confocal microscopy allows imaging at different depths in a sample and hence enables the reconstruction of three-dimensional images. We plan to use confocal imaging, for instance, in cell tracking experiments to assess recruitment of inflammatory leukocyte from the blood to atherosclerotic plaques. Inflammatory leukocytes accumulate inside the vessel wall and greatly contribute to initiation, progression and destabilization of plaques. Confocal microscopy will help us to visualize and quantify blood leukocytes that adhere to atherosclerotic vessels. These new insights will aid to develop new therapeutic avenues to reduce influx of inflammatory cells. In an ongoing project (funded by the German Research Foundation SA 1668/5-1) we found that acute mental stress exposure promoted adherence of blood leukocyte to plaque endothelial cells. Leukocyte then transmigrate through endothelial cells, accumulate inside the vessel wall and drive vascular inflammation and plaque vulnerability.In summary, confocal microscopy imaging will greatly support our research on atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction and will allow us to better understand cellular processes and interactions and to modulate these therapeutically.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Konfokales Laser-Scanning-Mikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Leader: Professor Dr. Hendrik Sager