Identification of DAPI-stained normal, inflammatory, and carcinoma hepatic cells based on hyperspectral microscopy

Gross chromatin imbalance and high DNA content are distinct features of various types of cancer cells. However, severe inflammation can also produce similar symptoms in cells. In this study, normal, inflammatory, and carcinoma hepatic cells were stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and investigated by hyperspectral microscopy. DAPI is a DNA-sensitive fluorochrome. Therefore, the differences in the cellular DNA of the samples can be revealed by the corresponding fluorescence. Our experimental results demonstrate that although chromosomal disorder and high DNA content both occur in severely inflammatory and carcinoma hepatic cells, there is still a slight difference in their DNA, making their fluorescent intensity and even their spectral shapes distinguishable. Based on these spectral features, we developed a method for the precise identification of normal, inflammatory, and carcinoma hepatic cells in the field of view. The identification accuracy for these three types of cells was 99.8%. We believe that examination that combines DAPI staining with hyperspectral microscopy is a potential method for the identification and investigation of various types of cancer tissues.