title: Current status and future perspectives of mass spectrometry imaging.
abstract: Mass spectrometry imaging is employed for mapping proteins, lipids and metabolites in biological tissues in a morphological context. Although initially developed as a tool for biomarker discovery by imaging the distribution of protein/peptide in tissue sections, the high sensitivity and molecular specificity of this technique have enabled its application to biomolecules, other than proteins, even in cells, latent finger prints and whole organisms. Relatively simple, with no requirement for labelling, homogenization, extraction or reconstitution, the technique has found a variety of applications in molecular biology, pathology, pharmacology and toxicology. By discriminating the spatial distribution of biomolecules in serial sections of tissues, biomarkers of lesions and the biological responses to stressors or diseases can be better understood in the context of structure and function. In this review, we have discussed the advances in the different aspects of mass spectrometry imaging processes, application towards different disciplines and relevance to the field of toxicology.
authors.affiliation: Inhalation Toxicology Laboratory, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A0K9, Canada. premkumari.kumarathasan@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Surendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nimesh
authors.forename: Susantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohottalage
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Prem
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumarathasan
mesh_terms: D053000:Analytic Sample Preparation Methods; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*