Three-dimensional label-free imaging and quantification of lipid droplets in live hepatocytes

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 22:6:36815. doi: 10.1038/srep36815.

Abstract

Lipid droplets (LDs) are subcellular organelles with important roles in lipid storage and metabolism and involved in various diseases including cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Conventional methods, however, have limited ability to provide quantitative information on individual LDs and have limited capability for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of LDs in live cells especially for fast acquisition of 3-D dynamics. Here, we present an optical method based on 3-D quantitative phase imaging to measure the 3-D structural distribution and biochemical parameters (concentration and dry mass) of individual LDs in live cells without using exogenous labelling agents. The biochemical change of LDs under oleic acid treatment was quantitatively investigated, and 4-D tracking of the fast dynamics of LDs revealed the intracellular transport of LDs in live cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Lipid Droplets / chemistry*
  • Lipid Droplets / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Oleic Acid / pharmacology
  • Time-Lapse Imaging

Substances

  • Oleic Acid