Abstract
Purpose: Histopathological evaluation presents conflicting reports regarding aortic abnormalities. The authors aim to present proof-of-concept study to explore the feasibility of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) in combination with histopathology for characterizing alterations in the aneurysmal ascending formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) aorta tissue. Experimental design: The authors assess FFPE specimens from patients with a dilated aorta and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), those with a standard tricuspid aortic valve (TAV), and those with Marfan syndrome (MFS) via histopathology and grade the conditions for elastic fiber fragmentation (EFF) and MALDI-IMS. The proteins using liquid chromatographic–mass spectrometry are identified and the results are confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Results: There is significant difference in terms of EFF between MFS and BAV, and TAV and BAV. Characteristic peptide signatures and m/z values in the EFF facilitate the characterization among the aortic specimens of BAV, MFS, and TAV. The m/z values from the aortic alpha smooth muscle actin and myosin heavy chains significantly increase in BAV compared with MFS and TAV. These findings are confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: The results represent a strategy that uses MALDI-IMS in combination with histopathology as promising approaches to characterize spatial alteration in the structure of the aneurysmal ascending aorta.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2000047 |
| Journal | Proteomics - Clinical Applications |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | e2000047 |
| ISSN | 1862-8346 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 01.2021 |
Funding
The authors thank Angelika Krajewski for providing excellent technical assistance in the sample preparation. This work was supported by grants from the BCRT and BSRT through funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Also, the authors would like to acknowledge and thank the Leducq Foundation for supporting their work and giving them the opportunity to study BAV aortopathy (MIBAVA Consortium) over the last years. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank the team of Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery, Luebeck, Germany. The authors thank Angelika Krajewski for providing excellent technical assistance in the sample preparation. This work was supported by grants from the BCRT and BSRT through funding by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Also, the authors would like to acknowledge and thank the Leducq Foundation for supporting their work and giving them the opportunity to study BAV aortopathy (MIBAVA Consortium) over the last years. Furthermore, the authors would like to thank the team of Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Vascular Surgery, Luebeck, Germany.
