1.Introduction
Our current understanding of the complex biology of solid organs,such as the liver,has been tremendously advanced by a wide variety of methodological approaches based on cell biology,biochemistry,molecular biology,and histology.Conventional methods such as the morphological assessment of tissue structure by histology and immunohistochemistry have generated valuable knowledge and revealed improved treatment options for various liver diseases.Furthermore,due to recent technological advances,it has been possible to gain deeper insights into physiological and pathological tissue organization,as well as dynamic processes taking place in vivo.These novel methods include single-cell tar-geted transcriptome analysis,mass spectrometry-based metabolite and protein expression studies,and considerable advances in two-and three-dimensional(2D/3D)imaging.This commentary will briefly review the recent progress that has been made in the field of imaging-based liver research,highlighting the novel possibilities of high-dimensional,multiparametric imaging in two and three dimensions,as well as those of dynamic time-lapse in vitro and in vivo imaging(Fig.1).We will also highlight some potential applications of these techniques for specific research questions in liver biology and disease.