Distinguishing Amyloid β-Protein in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease by Label-Free Vibrational Imaging.

Shaowei Li,Hao Xu,Renlong Zhang,Ziyi Luo,Liwei Liu,Junle Qu,Ting Zhou

doi:10.3390/bios11100365

Abstract

Due to the increase in the average age of humans, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has become one of the disorders with the highest incidence worldwide. Abnormal amyloid β protein (Aβ) accumulation is believed to be the most common cause of AD. Therefore, distinguishing the lesion areas can provide clues for AD diagnosis. Here, we present an optical spectroscopy and imaging approach based on coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS). Label-free vibrational imaging of Aβ in a mouse model of AD was performed to distinguish the lesion areas by studying the spectra of regions with and without Aβ plaques. Raman spectra in Aβ and non-Aβ regions exhibited a specific difference in the intensity ratio of the wave peaks detected at 2850 and 2930 cm−1. In the non-Aβ region, the ratio of the peak intensity at 2850 cm−1 to that at 2930 cm−1 was approximately 1, whereas that in the Aβ region was 0.8. This label-free vibrational imaging may provide a new method for the clinical diagnosis and basic research of AD.

Highlights

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by a decline in memory, thinking, learning, and cognitive functions
The pathological characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the abnormal deposition of the amyloid β protein (Aβ) in the cortex and hippocampus
High levels of Aβ subsequently lead to a series of downstream pathological events, including the production of large intracellular neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) deposits, inflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, loss of synaptic connections, and cell death, which contribute to the clinical manifestations of AD [1–4]

Summary

Introduction

Dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by a decline in memory, thinking, learning, and cognitive functions. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is an emerging label-free vibrational imaging with chemical selection that has been widely applied in biology and medical research [11–17].

Results

Conclusion