Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

Monocytes are among the first haematopoietic cells to migrate into the inflamed synovial tissue, where they integrate into the synovial lining network of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). Monocyte–FLS interactions can be analysed and monitored using real-time confocal/multiphoton microscopy of 3D synovial micromass cultures. Subtle migration patterns of monocytes in relation to the organized synovial lining architecture can be studied and altered by the addition of proinflammatory cytokines.

This picture shows an early stage (day 2) synovial micromass culture. FLSs (the large elongated cells) are starting to form a lining layer on the outside of the spherical micromass by connecting to each other and building dense clusters. These cells also start producing extracellular matrix, which can be detected using a multiphoton laser for second-harmonic generation (SHG). The first traces of the SHG signal of collagen structures can be found inside FLS clusters (enhanced/rendered with Imaris Bitplane Software). Monocytes (small round cells) reside in the matrix and make searching movements (visible in movies) in an attempt to attach to FLSs.

Cover image supplied by Dr Ruth Byrne from the Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.