Lunch Symposium – Standard BioTools

Speaker: Melissa Klug, Field Applications Scientist | Standard BioTools™

Abstract:
Mouse models are used for translational research and permit detection of therapeutic-induced immune-related modification in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Imaging Mass Cytometry™ (IMC™) is a spatial biology technique capable of quantitative evaluation of multiparametric tumor and immune cell composition in brain tissue. Here we demonstrate the application of a 40-marker panel composed of tumor and immune markers on mouse normal and glioblastoma (GBM) tissue using two new whole slide imaging (WSI) methods for IMC. Tissue Mode rapidly scans the entire tissue followed by pixel-clustering analysis to uncover spatial distribution of relevant markers. Preview Mode samples the entire tissue at predefined spacing to rapidly capture a low-resolution image of all expressed markers, improving informed identification of areas for high resolution Cell Mode imaging on the same slide. Tissue Mode imaging with pixel clustering analysis provided quantitative spatial expression patterns of tumor and immune markers across the GBM tissue. Necrotic cores, areas with high immune infiltration, extracellular matrix deposits and activated tumor cells were quantified. Preview Mode in combination with Cell Mode imaging and single-cell analysis revealed extensive tissue vascularization, replicating tumor cells and a variety of infiltrating immune cells. Overall, we highlight the capability of IMC to provide quantitative insights into the spatial biology of the TIME.