Imaging mass spectrometry reveals unique lipid distribution in primary varicose veins.
BACKGROUND
The lipid metabolism of varicose veins (VVs) remains unknown. To elucidate the pathogenesis of VV, we utilized the novel technique of imaging mass spectrometry (IMS).


METHODS
We obtained VV tissues from 10 limbs of 10 VV patients who underwent great saphenous vein stripping. As control vein samples, we harvested segmental vein tissues from 6 limbs of 6 patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease who underwent infra-inguinal bypass with reversed saphenous vein grafting. To identify the localisation of lipid molecules in the VV tissues, we performed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization IMS (MALDI-IMS). We also performed MS/MS analyses to identify the structure of each molecule.


RESULTS
We obtained mass spectra directly from control vein tissues and VV tissues and found a unique localisation of lipid molecules in the VV tissues. We localised lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) (1-acyl 16:0), phosphatidylcholine (PC) (1-acyl 36:4) and sphingomyelin (SM) (d18:1/16:0) at the site of the VV valve.


CONCLUSIONS
MALDI-IMS revealed the distribution of various lipid molecules in normal veins and VVs both. Accumulation of LPC (1-acyl 16:0), PC (1-acyl 36:4) and SM (d18:1/16:0) in the VV tissues suggested that inflammation associated with abnormal lipid metabolism may contribute to the development of VV.
Tanaka
H
H
Division of Vascular Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan.
Zaima
N
N
Yamamoto
N
N
Sagara
D
D
Suzuki
M
M
Nishiyama
M
M
Mano
Y
Y
Sano
M
M
Hayasaka
T
T
Goto-Inoue
N
N
Sasaki
T
T
Konno
H
H
Unno
N
N
Setou
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008055:Lipids; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D008055:Lipids