title: Tissue proteomics for the next decade? Towards a molecular dimension in histology.
abstract: The concept of tissues appeared more than 200 years ago, since textures and attendant differences were described within the whole organism components. Instrumental developments in optics and biochemistry subsequently paved the way to transition from classical to molecular histology in order to decipher the molecular contexts associated with physiological or pathological development or function of a tissue. In 1941, Coons and colleagues performed the first systematic integrated examination of classical histology and biochemistry when his team localized pneumonia antigens in infected tissue sections. Most recently, in the early 21(st) century, mass spectrometry (MS) has progressively become one of the most valuable tools to analyze biomolecular compounds. Currently, sampling methods, biochemical procedures, and MS instrumentations allow scientists to perform "in depth" analysis of the protein content of any type of tissue of interest. This article reviews the salient issues in proteomics analysis of tissues. We first outline technical and analytical considerations for sampling and biochemical processing of tissues and subsequently the instrumental possibilities for proteomics analysis such as shotgun proteomics in an anatomical context. Specific attention concerns formalin fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues that are potential "gold mines" for histopathological investigations. In all, the matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS imaging, which allows for differential mapping of hundreds of compounds on a tissue section, is currently the most striking evidence of linkage and transition between "classical" and "molecular" histology. Tissue proteomics represents a veritable field of research and investment activity for modern biomarker discovery and development for the next decade.
authors.affiliation: 1 Mass Spectrometry Laboratory , GIGA-Research, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège , Liège, Belgium .
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longuespée
authors.forename: Maximilien
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fléron
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pottier
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quesada-Calvo
authors.forename: Marie-Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Meuwis
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baiwir
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smargiasso
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzucchelli
authors.forename: Marie-Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: De Pauw-Gillet
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delvenne
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Pauw
mesh_terms: D006653:Histology / Q000639:trends*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D061346:Laser Capture Microdissection; D040901:Proteomics / Q000639:trends*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization