Quantitative imaging of lipid droplets in single cells

Analyst. 2019 Jan 28;144(3):753-765. doi: 10.1039/c8an01525b.

Abstract

The combination of next generation sequencing (NGS) and automated liquid handling platforms has led to a revolution in single-cell genomic studies. However, many molecules that are critical to understanding the functional roles of cells in a complex tissue or organs, are not directly encoded in the genome, and therefore cannot be profiled with NGS. Lipids, for example, play a critical role in many metabolic processes but cannot be detected by sequencing. Recent developments in quantitative imaging, particularly coherent Raman scattering (CRS) techniques, have produced a suite of tools for studying lipid content in single cells. This article reviews CRS imaging and computational image processing techniques for non-destructive profiling of dynamic changes in lipid composition and spatial distribution at the single-cell level. As quantitative CRS imaging progresses synergistically with microfluidic and microscopic platforms for single-cell genomic analysis, we anticipate that these techniques will bring researchers closer towards combined lipidomic and genomic analysis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Lipid Droplets / chemistry*
  • Lipids / analysis*
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*

Substances

  • Lipids