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Visualization of phosphatidylcholine (16:0/16:0) in type II alveolar epithelial cells in the human lung using imaging mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Kurabe Nobuya,
Hayasaka Takahiro,
Igarashi Hisaki,
Mori Hiroki,
Sekihara Keigo,
Tao Hong,
Yamada Hidetaka,
Kahyo Tomoaki,
Onishi Ippei,
Tsukui Hiroe,
Kawase Akikazu,
Matsuura Shun,
Inoue Yusuke,
Shinmura Kazuya,
Funai Kazuhito,
Setou Mitsutoshi,
Sugimura Haruhiko
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pathology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1827
pISSN - 1320-5463
DOI - 10.1111/pin.12050
Subject(s) - mass spectrometry imaging , lung , pulmonary surfactant , pathology , phosphatidylcholine , chemistry , human lung , alveolar wall , mass spectrometry , medicine , chromatography , phospholipid , biochemistry , membrane
Imaging mass spectrometry ( MS ) is an emerging technique that can detect numerous biomolecular distributions in a non‐targeting manner. In the present study, we applied a mass imaging modality, mass microscopy, to human lung tissue and identified several molecules including surfactant constituents in a specific structure of the lung alveoli. Four peaks were identified using imaging MS , and the ion at m/z 772.5, in particular, was localized at some spots in the alveolar walls. Using an MS / MS analysis, the ion was identified as phosphatidylcholine ( PC )(16:0/16:0), which is the main component of lung surfactant. In a larger magnification of the lung specimen, PC (16:0/16:0) was distributed in a mottled fashion in a section of the lung. Importantly, the distribution of PC (16:0/16:0) was identical to that of anti‐ SLC34A2 antibody immunoreactivity, which is known to be a specific marker of type II alveolar epithelial cells, in the same section. Our experience suggests that imaging MS has excellent potential in human pathology research.