Imaging mass spectrometry using chemical inkjet printing reveals differential protein expression in human oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is a recently developed technique that generates molecular profiles usually of peptide and protein signals directly from the surface of thin tissue sections and can be coupled with automation to generate two-dimensional ion density maps. This allows specific information to be obtained on the relative abundance and spatial distribution of the analytes of interest. The technique has potential for application in many diseases including cancer with respect to elucidating the molecular pathology and identifying potential biomarkers. In this proof-of-principle study we have evaluated inkjet printing of the sinapinic acid matrix used for MALDI-IMS directly onto the surface of human oral squamous cell carcinoma biopsy specimens. This MS profiling technique produced reproducible informative chemical images for clinical pathology. Analysis of the resulting protein profiles of highly expressed protein in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue reveals spectral features at approximately 4500 and approximately 8360 Da.
Patel
Soyab A
SA
Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, UKM1 7DN.
Barnes
Alan
A
Loftus
Neil
N
Martin
Rachel
R
Sloan
Philip
P
Thakker
Nalin
N
Goodacre
Royston
R
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins