Issue 6, 2014

Liquid biopsy of atherosclerosis using protoporphyrin IX as a biomarker

Abstract

Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), a derivative of hematoporphyrin, can accumulate in rapidly growing tissues, including tumors and atherosclerotic plaques. The objective of this study is to employ PPIX fluorescence to detect the changes in blood caused by the formation of atheromatous plaques in arteries; this measurement can function as a liquid biopsy. For this purpose twenty four rabbits were randomly divided into groups: control group (CG) – fed with a normal diet, and an experimental group (EG) – fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol). Blood samples were collected before (0 time) and after 22, 43, 64 days to measure biochemical factors. The aortas were removed after 22, 43 and 64 days to assess the atherosclerotic plaques. PPIX was extracted from the blood and fluorescence was measured in the 550–750 nm range from samples that were excited at 405 nm. Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was administered intravenously to increase the PPIX fluorescence intensity in the arteries and consequently in the liquid biopsy of the atherosclerotic plaques. The results have shown that the PPIX fluorescence increased as the atheromatous plaques grew. The aorta fluorescence and the PPIX fluorescence increased in the animals in the experimental group that received ALA. PPIX that accumulates in atheromatous plaques transfers to the blood and can be analyzed by extracting porphyrin from total blood. Therefore, this method can aid in the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis with high sensitivity.

Graphical abstract: Liquid biopsy of atherosclerosis using protoporphyrin IX as a biomarker

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 အောက် 2013
Accepted
04 ဒီ 2013
First published
05 ဒီ 2013

Analyst, 2014,139, 1383-1388

Liquid biopsy of atherosclerosis using protoporphyrin IX as a biomarker

M. Nascimento da Silva, L. B. Sicchieri, F. Rodrigues de Oliveira Silva, M. F. Andrade and L. C. Courrol, Analyst, 2014, 139, 1383 DOI: 10.1039/C3AN01945D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements