Institute of Molecular Genetics, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Pavia, Italy.
Department of Biology & Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Liver Int. 2018 Jul;38(7):1160-1174. doi: 10.1111/liv.13753. Epub 2018 Apr 24.
Autofluorescence emission of liver tissue depends on the presence of endogenous biomolecules able to fluoresce under suitable light excitation. Overall autofluorescence emission contains much information of diagnostic value because it is the sum of individual autofluorescence contributions from fluorophores involved in metabolism, for example, NAD(P)H, flavins, lipofuscins, retinoids, porphyrins, bilirubin and lipids, or in structural architecture, for example, fibrous proteins, in close relationship with normal, altered or diseased conditions of the liver. Since the 1950s, hepatocytes and liver have been historical models to study NAD(P)H and flavins as in situ, real-time autofluorescence biomarkers of energy metabolism and redox state. Later investigations designed to monitor organ responses to ischaemia/reperfusion were able to predict the risk of dysfunction in surgery and transplantation or support the development of procedures to ameliorate the liver outcome. Subsequently, fluorescent fatty acids, lipofuscin-like lipopigments and collagen were characterized as optical biomarkers of liver steatosis, oxidative stress damage, fibrosis and disease progression. Currently, serum AF is being investigated to improve non-invasive optical diagnosis of liver disease. Validation of endogenous fluorophores and in situ discrimination of cancerous from non-cancerous tissue belong to the few studies on liver in human subjects. These reports along with other optical techniques and the huge work performed on animal models suggest many optically based applications in hepatology. Optical diagnosis is currently offering beneficial outcomes in clinical fields ranging from the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, to dermatology and ophthalmology. Accordingly, this review aims to promote an effective bench to bedside transfer in hepatology.
肝组织的自发荧光发射取决于能够在合适的光激发下发出荧光的内源性生物分子的存在。总的自发荧光发射包含了许多有诊断价值的信息，因为它是参与代谢的荧光团的个体自发荧光贡献的总和，例如 NAD(P)H、黄素、脂褐素、类视黄醇、卟啉、胆红素和脂质，或者参与结构架构，例如与肝脏的正常、改变或患病状况密切相关的纤维蛋白。自 20 世纪 50 年代以来，肝细胞和肝脏一直是研究 NAD(P)H 和黄素作为能量代谢和氧化还原状态的原位实时自发荧光生物标志物的历史模型。后来设计用于监测器官对缺血/再灌注反应的研究能够预测手术和移植中功能障碍的风险，或支持改善肝脏结果的程序的开发。随后，荧光脂肪酸、类脂褐素样脂色素和胶原蛋白被表征为肝脂肪变性、氧化应激损伤、纤维化和疾病进展的光学生物标志物。目前，正在研究血清 AF 以改善肝脏疾病的非侵入性光学诊断。内源性荧光团的验证和癌组织与非癌组织的原位区分属于人体肝脏的少数研究之一。这些报告以及其他光学技术和在动物模型上的大量工作表明，在肝脏中有许多基于光学的应用。光学诊断目前在从呼吸道和胃肠道到皮肤科和眼科等临床领域提供有益的结果。因此，本综述旨在促进肝脏学中的有效基础到临床转化。
