ToF-SIMS Imaging for the Analysis of Cholesterol Formation at Macrophage Membrane

Background/Objectives: Atherosclerosis has its development intricately linked to cholesterol accumulation in the artery wall. Macrophages play a crucial role in early-stage cholesterol aggregation during atherosclerosis. Thus, exploring cholesterol formation in macrophages is of great significance for elucidating the development of atherosclerosis. Methods: Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is a powerful technique capable of offering high-spatial-resolution 2D and 3D chemical images, making it an ideal method for studying cholesterol distribution at the single-cell level. In this study, we utilized ToF-SIMS to image the cholesterol distribution in macrophages. By incubating macrophages with acetylated low-density lipoprotein (acLDL), we observed the accumulation of cholesterol on the macrophage membrane. Results and Conclusions: The results revealed that acLDL promotes cholesterol formation in macrophages, further clarifying the functions and roles of acLDL and cholesterol in the development of atherosclerosis. This research provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of atherosclerosis and may be helpful to the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies.