We have employed MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) technology in studies of a variety of diseases, including several types of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and kidney diseases, comparing proteins differentially expressed in diseased tissue with those in the corresponding normal tissue. This will be illustrated with studies of breast tumor biopsies and also those for human glioblastomas. In the latter, MS patterns have also been correlated with patient outcomes. This has been applied in a process termed histology-directed molecular analysis of tissue and biopsy specimens. In addition, 3-D peptide and protein images of mouse head, brain, and uterus have been generated from spatially registered serial sections and have been correlated with MRI and PET images. IMS has also been applied to drug targeting and metabolic studies with analysis of specific tissues after systemic drug administration. Whole animal sagittal sections have been imaged to measure molecular changes in proteins in multiple organs and correlating this with drug concentrations in these same organs. Finally, we have begun to image lipids in biological tissues and have employed ion mobility as an integral part of the imaging instrumentation for these studies.
Professor Caprioli is interested in the use of mass spectrometry for the analysis of compounds in biological systems. Current work includes the use of electrospray and laser desorption ionization methods with biological tissues and samples. Applications have focused on the development of this instrumentation and associated methodologies to achieve ultra-high sensitivity detection of endogenous compounds (e.g., neuropeptides) in live animal systems. Recent work involves the development of Imaging Mass Spectrometry, a technique whereby molecular images of peptides, proteins, drugs and other compounds are localized in tissue sections with molecular weight specificity. This method involves molecular mapping of animal tissue through the production of ion images obtained from the analysis of mammalian tissue. Applications to specific research areas involve questions about certain spatial distributions of molecules within specific tissues, e.g., mapping proteins in cancer tissue. Specific applications include human glioblastomas, breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer.
Dr. Caprioli has been a member of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry since 1975; he served two years each as President of the Society and Vice-President for Programs. He is a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the American Chemical Society. Professor Caprioli has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Mass Spectrometry since 1990. He is currently co-editing several volumes and is Series Editor of Encyclopedia of Mass Spectrometry. He has published over 300 scientific papers, including three books. In 2003, Dr. Caprioli received the Thomson Medal Award from the International Mass Spectrometry Society for "for outstanding achievements in mass spectrometry and for distinguished service to international mass spectrometry." He received the Field and Franklin Award from the American Chemical Society in April, 2006 for Outstanding Achievement in Mass Spectrometry.
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