Characterizing the blood–brain barrier and gut barrier with super-resolution imaging: opportunities and challenges

Abstract

Brain and gut barriers have been receiving increasing attention in health and diseases including in psychiatry. Recent studies have highlighted changes in the blood-brain barrier and gut barrier structural properties, notably a loss of tight junctions, leading to hyperpermeability, passage of inflammatory mediators, stress vulnerability, and the development of depressive behaviors. To decipher the cellular processes actively contributing to brain and gut barrier function in health and disease, scientists can take advantage of neurophotonic tools and recent advances in super-resolution microscopy techniques to complement traditional imaging approaches like confocal and electron microscopy. Here, we summarize the challenges, pros, and cons of these innovative approaches, hoping that a growing number of scientists will integrate them in their study design exploring barrier-related properties and mechanisms.

Special Section Guest Editorial: Frontiers in Neurophotonics

“…12 Finally, a perspective by Doney et al highlights the importance of super-resolution imaging and quantitative data analysis, originally developed for neuroscience applications, for imaging beyond the brain. 13 Lastly, we worked together as a group to produce a summary paper 14 reflecting the collaborative spirit of our community. In this "Community paper," we talk about the symposium, as well as the Neurophotonics International Summer School, and focus on several of the topics discussed at the last event, including the work of Angela Getz and colleagues featured on the cover of Volume 11 Issue 1.…”

“…Finally, a perspective by Doney et al. highlights the importance of super-resolution imaging and quantitative data analysis, originally developed for neuroscience applications, for imaging beyond the brain 13 …”