Coherent Raman spectroscopic imaging to characterize microglia activation pathway

Abstract

Microglia are immune cells, which densely populate the central nervous system (CNS), and play essential role in suppression of neurodegenerative diseases, clearance of debris after CNS trauma, as well as serve as the last line of immune defense in response to any potential threat by being activated to eliminate diverse pathogens ranging from bacteria to cancer. The activated microglia cells are commonly used as a diagnostic biomarker of diverse brain conditions, however detection and classification of microglia activated phenotypes is a cumbersome and imprecise procedure. Here, we report on development of optical assay for detection and quantitative analysis of activated microglia. In this study, we investigated overall changes in the metabolism of microglia cells during their activation by monitoring the signal from cellular proteins and lipids using label-free Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) imaging. Our data demonstrate that the activation of microglia in the presence of bacterial liposaccharide is accompanied by intense upregulation of synthesis of proteins and lipids. We further propose that elevated intracellular content of these types of macromolecules can serve as early supplementary marker for identification of active microglia cells in the brain samples by Raman imaging techniques. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Phenotype Identification of HeLa Cells Knockout CDK6 Gene Based on Label-Free Raman Imaging

“…These researchers retrieved cell stat-specific spectral information to characterize each cell state. Chinmayee et al, monitored the intense upregulation of protein and lipid synthesis signals in microglia during the activation process using label-free Raman imaging . These researchers proposed that the elevated intracellular content of these types of macromolecules can serve as phenotypic markers for identifying active microglia cells.…”

“…Chinmayee et al, monitored the intense upregulation of protein and lipid synthesis signals in microglia during the activation process using label-free Raman imaging. 23 These researchers proposed that the elevated intracellular content of these types of macromolecules can serve as phenotypic markers for identifying active microglia cells. Unfortunately, studies of cell phenotypes associated with lipid metabolism are even less.…”