Imaging Mass Cytometry

Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC) is a multiplexed proteomics technique that maps the subcellular localization of up to 40-50 proteins in tissue sections simultaneously using mass spectrometry detection. Developed by Bodenmiller and colleagues in 2014, IMC combines the single-cell imaging power of immunofluorescence with the multiplexing capacity of mass cytometry, enabling comprehensive analysis of cell types, states, and spatial interactions within tissue microenvironments. IMC has emerged as a powerful tool in immuno-oncology, immunobiology, and tissue biology for dissecting cellular heterogeneity and spatial organization.