Vibrational spectroscopy-based quantification of liver steatosis

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease Vol. 1865; no. 11; p. 165526
• Main Authors: Szafraniec, E., Tott, S., Kus, E., Augustynska, D., Jasztal, A., Filipek, A., Chlopicki, S., Baranska, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Animals; Fatty Liver - metabolism; Fatty Liver - pathology; Least-Squares Analysis; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Lipids - analysis; Liver - chemistry; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Liver steatosis; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oil red O staining; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared - methods; Spectrum Analysis, Raman - methods; Vibrational spectroscopy; Oil red O staining; Lipids; Liver steatosis; Vibrational spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0925-4439; 1879-260X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.08.002

The liver plays a central role in lipid metabolism, and abnormal lipid accumulation in the liver is a key feature of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. In experimental studies, quantification of liver steatosis is commonly based on lipids staining or biochemical analysis. Here, we present a spectroscopic approach for quantitative analysis of the lipid content in the freeze-dried liver. The method is based on vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and infrared) measurements applied for Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression modeling. The obtained PLS models show a good correlation of the spectroscopic data with the reference histological evaluation of steatosis based on Oil Red O (ORO)-stained images of liver cross sections. Vibrational spectroscopy with PLS-based modeling described here represents a useful approach for the fast assessment of the liver steatosis in a small sample of freeze-dried liver tissue. In conclusion, our work demonstrates the easy-to-use method that can be applied in laboratory routine as a beneficial alternative to the established ORO staining. •Vibrational spectroscopy allows accurately quantifying liver steatosis.•Spectroscopic data shows good correlation with ORO-staining results.•Raman and infrared spectroscopy can be equally applied in presented method.