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Research
2016.06.07

Real-time intravital imaging of pH variation associated with osteoclast activity (Kikuchi group and M. Ishii group, in Nat Chem Biol)

PRESS RELEASE

Kazuya Kikuchi's group (Chemical Imaging Techniques) and Masaru Ishii's group (Immunology and Cell Biology) designed and developed a functional small molecular probe (SMP) with an active-targeting moiety, higher photostability, and fluorescence switch, and imaged target cell activity by injecting the SMP into living mice. The combination of the rationally designed SMP with a fluorescent protein as a reporter of cell localization enabled quantitation of osteoclast activity and time-lapse imaging of its in vivo function associated with changes in cell deformation and membrane fluctuations. Real-time imaging revealed heterogenic behaviors of osteoclasts in vivo and provided insights into the mechanism of bone resorption.

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Contact:

Kazuya Kikuchi
Chemical Imaging Techniques Science
Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University
Masaru Ishii
Immunology and Cell Biology
Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University