Scaffold-free development of multicellular tumor spheroids with spatial characterization of structure and metabolic radial profiles.

Purpose: assays are essential for studying cellular biology, but traditional monolayer cultures fail to replicate the complex three-dimensional (3D) interactions of cells in living organisms. 3D culture systems offer a more accurate reflection of the cellular microenvironment. However, 3D cultures require robust and unique methods of characterization.

The Physiological and Therapeutic Role of CD47 in Macrophage Function and Cancer.

Background: Immunotherapy is an emerging strategy in cancer therapeutics aimed at modulating the immune system to inhibit pro-tumor pathways and increase a tumor's sensitivity to chemotherapy. Several clinically approved immunotherapy treatments, such as monoclonal antibody treatments, have been successful in solid tumors such as breast, colorectal, and pancreatic. However, an outstanding challenge of these strategies is tumor cell resistance.

Live-Cell Imaging Quantifies Changes in Function and Metabolic NADH Autofluorescence During Macrophage-Mediated Phagocytosis of Tumor Cells.

Background: The immune system has evolved to detect foreign antigens and deliver coordinated responses, while minimizing "friendly fire." Until recently, studies investigating the behavior of immune cells were limited to static measurements. Although static measurements allow for real-time imaging, results are often difficult to translate to an setting.

Autofluorescence imaging of endogenous metabolic cofactors in response to cytokine stimulation of classically activated macrophages.

Background: Macrophages are one of the most prevalent subsets of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment and perform a range of functions depending on the cytokines and chemokines released by surrounding cells and tissues. Recent research has revealed that macrophages can exhibit a spectrum of phenotypes, making them highly plastic due to their ability to alter their physiology in response to environmental cues. Recent advances in examining heterogeneous macrophage populations include optical metabolic imaging, such as fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), and multiphoton microscopy.