Unravelling Tissue Complexity in Samples of Human Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Importance of the Topic

Inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease present complex tissue heterogeneity and require molecularly precise diagnostic methods. High-resolution imaging mass spectrometry (MSI) provides a cell-specific lipid fingerprint, enhancing understanding of disease mechanisms and guiding targeted therapies.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study applied MALDI-MSI at 10 µm spatial resolution to endoscopic colon biopsies from patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and healthy controls. The aims were to map lipid distributions in distinct tissue compartments, correlate molecular patterns with histology, and identify disease-related alterations.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sample Preparation

• Snap-frozen human colon biopsies cryo-sectioned at 10 µm thickness
• Matrix deposition: 1,5-diaminonaphthalene by stainless-steel sublimation for negative-ion detection

Imaging Mass Spectrometry

• Instrument: Shimadzu MALDI-7090™ MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometer
• Laser spot diameter and stage step size: 10 µm
• Mass range: m/z 200–1200

Main Results and Discussion

High-resolution MSI enabled clear differentiation of lamina propria, crypt epithelium, and muscularis mucosae. Key observations:

• m/z 861.550 localized to crypt units; m/z 885.550 to lamina propria
• Segmentation and PCA separated tissue types and distinguished disease from control samples
• Altered lipid profiles found in IBD biopsies compared to healthy tissue
• Infiltrating immune cells contributed to lipid heterogeneity

Benefits and Practical Applications

This workflow delivers cell-level molecular maps for enhanced diagnostic precision, improved disease classification, and informed therapeutic decisions. It supports QA/QC in research and clinical settings.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Possible developments include:

• Further enhancements in spatial resolution and sensitivity
• Integration with proteomics and transcriptomics for multi-omics tissue profiling
• Automated segmentation and machine learning for rapid biomarker discovery
• Clinical translation of MSI techniques into routine diagnostic practice

Conclusion

MALDI-MSI at 10 µm resolution uncovers distinct lipid signatures in human colon tissue and highlights disease-specific alterations in IBD, offering a powerful tool for molecular histology and personalized medicine.

References

None provided in the source.