322
carotenoid concentration in gall bodies was analyzed in two advanced lung cancer
patients and compared to the healthy subject. It was found that the carotenoids concentration increased during the days of supplementation but differently in the cytoplasm and gall bodies. In the cytoplasm, the concentration of carotenoids raised
crease of the β-carotene concentration was observed only for first 5 days of supplementation, and remained constant thereafter. After supplementation the amount of
β-carotene was the same for both lung cancer patients and the healthy subject in cytoplasm, while the amount of carotenoids in gall bodies of lung cancer patients did
not reach the concentration level of the healthy person. therefore, it was concluded
that carotenoids are not taken up to gall bodies by simple diffusion [10].
11.4.2 Pathogenic Human Cells
other human cells, where carotenoids were studied with the help of Raman spectroscopy, were human colon adenocarcinoma [4], gastric carcinoma [5] and human
breast cancer cells [6, 46, 47]. It was suggested that in some cases carotenoids can
be treated as Raman biomarkers to distinguish between the cancerous/malignant
and healthy cells and tissues. the application of Raman spectroscopy and Raman
imaging in medical diagnostic is a great hope for noninvasive and fast diagnosis
in the future. Below-mentioned findings open the possibility of replacing the conventional histological imaging/staining techniques with high-resolution and highly
sensitive Raman imaging.
In the study of human colon adenocarcinoma (cell line ht29), two groups of
cells were treated with the medium supplemented with carotenoids: β-carotene or
astaxanthin, respectively [4]. the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of
carotenoids in the medium on the cells and verify the concentration of carotenoids
after incubation. the concentration of carotenoids in the cells was estimated with
the application of hPLC while pigments distribution was determined by Raman
spectroscopy.
the cellular levels of carotenoids in living and metabolically active cells
were measured after incubation with pigments for 24 and 72 h, respectively. For
both carotenoids, β-carotene and astaxanthin, the highest cellular concentration
of carotenoids without cytotoxic effects was observed with the concentration of
10 µmol dm
−3
and the time of incubation of 72 h. the cellular level of astaxanthin in
measured cells was approximately 50 times higher compared to β-carotene. For the
chosen culture conditions, the distribution of carotenoids in colon cells was also determined. the highest intensity of the signal from astaxanthin (the distribution map
obtained based on the band at 1525 cm
−1
) was observed in the cytoplasm while the
nucleus contained lower amount of astaxanthin. The Raman signal from β-carotene
in cells was too low to generate Raman distribution maps of the latter pigment [4].
the findings for human colon adenocarcinoma cells coincide with the earlier
studies referring to lymphocytes. the increased amount of carotenoids in specific
places in the cytoplasm (for example gall bodies) was observed in both types of
A. Kaczor and m. Pilarczyk
carotenoid concentration in gall bodies was analyzed in two advanced lung cancer
patients and compared to the healthy subject. It was found that the carotenoids concentration increased during the days of supplementation but differently in the cytoplasm and gall bodies. In the cytoplasm, the concentration of carotenoids raised
crease of the β-carotene concentration was observed only for first 5 days of supplementation, and remained constant thereafter. After supplementation the amount of
β-carotene was the same for both lung cancer patients and the healthy subject in cytoplasm, while the amount of carotenoids in gall bodies of lung cancer patients did
not reach the concentration level of the healthy person. therefore, it was concluded
that carotenoids are not taken up to gall bodies by simple diffusion [10].
11.4.2 Pathogenic Human Cells
other human cells, where carotenoids were studied with the help of Raman spectroscopy, were human colon adenocarcinoma [4], gastric carcinoma [5] and human
breast cancer cells [6, 46, 47]. It was suggested that in some cases carotenoids can
be treated as Raman biomarkers to distinguish between the cancerous/malignant
and healthy cells and tissues. the application of Raman spectroscopy and Raman
imaging in medical diagnostic is a great hope for noninvasive and fast diagnosis
in the future. Below-mentioned findings open the possibility of replacing the conventional histological imaging/staining techniques with high-resolution and highly
sensitive Raman imaging.
In the study of human colon adenocarcinoma (cell line ht29), two groups of
cells were treated with the medium supplemented with carotenoids: β-carotene or
astaxanthin, respectively [4]. the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of
carotenoids in the medium on the cells and verify the concentration of carotenoids
after incubation. the concentration of carotenoids in the cells was estimated with
the application of hPLC while pigments distribution was determined by Raman
spectroscopy.
the cellular levels of carotenoids in living and metabolically active cells
were measured after incubation with pigments for 24 and 72 h, respectively. For
both carotenoids, β-carotene and astaxanthin, the highest cellular concentration
of carotenoids without cytotoxic effects was observed with the concentration of
10 µmol dm
−3
and the time of incubation of 72 h. the cellular level of astaxanthin in
measured cells was approximately 50 times higher compared to β-carotene. For the
chosen culture conditions, the distribution of carotenoids in colon cells was also determined. the highest intensity of the signal from astaxanthin (the distribution map
obtained based on the band at 1525 cm
−1
) was observed in the cytoplasm while the
nucleus contained lower amount of astaxanthin. The Raman signal from β-carotene
in cells was too low to generate Raman distribution maps of the latter pigment [4].
the findings for human colon adenocarcinoma cells coincide with the earlier
studies referring to lymphocytes. the increased amount of carotenoids in specific
places in the cytoplasm (for example gall bodies) was observed in both types of
A. Kaczor and m. Pilarczyk