Visualization of lipid components in human coronary plaques using color fluorescence angioscopy
Yasumi Uchida1, Yasuto Uchida, Noriaki Kameda
1Japan Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. uchiy@ta2.so-net.ne.jp
Background:
If oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), LDL, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) can be visualized simultaneously, their roles in the initiation, progression and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques can be objectively evaluated.
Methods And Results:
(1) The fluorescence characteristic of each atherogenic substance was investigated by microscopy using a band-pass filter (470 nm) and a band-absorption filter (520 nm) with homidium bromide (Ho) and trypan blue (TB) as indicators. (2) 50 excised human coronary plaques were classified by their autofluorescence into green, greenish-yellow and yellow, and the localization of oxLDL, LDL, LPC and apoB were investigated by color fluorescence angioscopy (CFA). The plaque colors were white, yellow and glistening yellow by conventional angioscopy. (1) OxLDL and LDL exhibited golden fluorescence, whereas LPC and apoB exhibited red fluorescence. (2) By CFA, 16 of 19 greenish-yellow and 1 of 8 yellow plaques exhibited red and golden fluorescence in a mosaic pattern, indicating co-deposition of oxLDL/LDL and LPC/apoB; 3 greenish-yellow and 7 yellow plaques exhibited red fluorescence, indicating solitary deposition of apoB; 23 green plaques infrequently exhibited these fluorescence colors.
Conclusions:
OxLDL/LDL and LPC/apoB were successfully visualized as co-deposited in greenish-yellow autofluorescence plaques, but only LPC/apoB in yellow autofluorescence plaques.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Lipid Digestion
03:38Structure of Lipids
03:02Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human...
01:38What are Lipids?
01:24Color Vision
01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin,...