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Review
. 2026 Jan;47(Suppl 1):59-61.
doi: 10.1007/s00292-025-01503-0. Epub 2025 Dec 10.

Taking imaging into the fourth dimension

Martin-Leo Hansmann  1   2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Taking imaging into the fourth dimension

Martin-Leo Hansmann. Pathologie (Heidelb). 2026 Jan.

Abstract
in English, German

Background: Hematopathology is rapidly advancing. Combining structural, molecular, and dynamic analyses enables a deeper understanding of immune reactions and malignant lymphomas.

Materials and methods: Three-dimensional (3D) imaging uses fluorescence-stained tissue sections with confocal microscopy. Four-dimensional (4D) live tissue slices allow real-time visualization of immune cell movement. Drugs can be tested directly on fresh samples.

Results: Three-dimensional images show key immune cell types; 4D imaging reveals cell-cell interactions. Nivolumab, for example, prolonged T cell contact with Hodgkin cells.

Conclusion: Four-dimensional technology improves early disease detection, treatment monitoring, and drug development, bridging between molecular findings and clinical applications.

Zusammenfassung: HINTERGRUND: Die Hämatopathologie entwickelt sich rasch. Durch Kombination struktureller, molekularer und dynamischer Methoden lassen sich Immunreaktionen und Lymphome besser verstehen.

Material und methoden: Dreidimensionale (3-D-)Bildgebung erfolgt mit fluoreszenzmarkierten Gewebeschnitten und konfokaler Mikroskopie. Vierdimensionale (4-D-)Lebendschnitte ermöglichen Echtzeit-Beobachtungen von Immunzellbewegungen. Therapeutika können direkt getestet werden.

Ergebnisse: Mit 3‑D-Bildgebung sind zentrale Immunzelltypen sichtbar; mit 4‑D-Technik werden Zellinteraktionen offenbart. Nivolumab verlängerte etwa den T‑Zell-Kontakt mit Hodgkin-Zellen.

Schlussfolgerung: Durch 4‑D-Technologien kommt es zu einer Verbesserung von Früherkennung, Therapiekontrolle und Wirkstoffentwicklung, damit kann eine Brücke zwischen Molekulardaten und Klinik geschlagen werden.

Keywords: Diagnostics; Hematopathology; Immunotherapy; Lymphoma; Medical imaging.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: M.-L. Hansmann declares that he has no competing interests. For this article no studies with human participants or animals were performed by the author. All studies mentioned were in accordance with the ethical standards indicated in each case. The supplement containing this article is not sponsored by industry.

References

    1. Scharf S, Ackermann J, Bender L, Wurzel P, Schäfer H, Hansmann ML, Koch I (2023) Holistic view on the structure of immune response: petri net model. Biomedicines. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020452 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Hansmann ML, Scharf S, Wurzel P, Hartmann S (2025) Lymphomas in 3D and 4D spaces. Hum Pathol 156:105699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humpath.2024.105699 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Donnadieu E, Michel Y, Hansmann ML (2019) Live imaging of resident T‑cell migration in human lymphoid tissue slices using confocal microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 1930:75–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9036-8_10 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Theil DE, Bütow C, Scharf S, Schäfer H, Hartmann S, Hansmann ML, Wurzel P (2025) Behavioral investigation of reactive and neoplastic lymphocytes in human lymph nodes in 4D. PLoS ONE 20(9):e331439. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0331439 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Moter A, Scharf S, Schäfer H, Bexte T, Wendel P, Donnadieu E, Hansmann ML, Hartmann S, Ullrich E (2025) Migration dynamics of human NK cell preparations in microchannels and their invasion into patient-derived tissue. J Cell Mol Med 29(7):e70481. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.70481 - DOI - PubMed - PMC

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