Identification of cholesterol crystals in plaques of atherosclerotic mice using
hyperspectral CARS imaging.
Authors Lim RS, Suhalim JL, Miyazaki-Anzai S, Miyazaki M, Levi M, Potma EO, Tromberg BJ
Submitted By Moshe Levi on 8/1/2012
Status Published
Journal Journal of lipid research
Year 2011
Date Published 12/1/2011
Volume : Pages 52 : 2177 - 2186
PubMed Reference 21949051
Abstract The accumulation of lipids, including cholesterol, in the arterial wall plays a
key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Although several advances have
been made in the detection and imaging of these lipid structures in plaque
lesions, their morphology and composition have yet to be fully elucidated,
particularly in different animal models of disease. To address this issue, we
analyzed lipid morphology and composition in the atherosclerotic plaques of two
animal models of disease, the low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient
(LDLR(-/-)) mouse and the ApoE lipoprotein-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mouse,
utilizing hyperspectral coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy
in combination with principal component analysis (PCA). Hyperspectral CARS
imaging revealed lipid-rich macrophage cells and condensed needle-shaped and
plate-shaped lipid crystal structures in both mice. Spectral analysis with PCA
and comparison to spectra of pure cholesterol and cholesteryl ester derivatives
further revealed these lipid structures to be pure cholesterol crystals, which
were predominantly observed in the ApoE(-/-) mouse model. These results
illustrate the ability of hyperspectral CARS imaging in combination with
multivariate analysis to characterize atherosclerotic lipid morphology and
composition with chemical specificity, and consequently, provide new insight
into the formation of cholesterol crystal structures in atherosclerotic plaque
lesions.


Investigators with authorship
NameInstitution
Moshe LeviGeorgetown University

Complications