Accurate Detection of Hcy in Human Serum and Two-Photon Visualization of Atherosclerosis Using a Highly Specific Fluorescent Probe
Feng Wei, Yang Ding, Jiale Ou, Xiaohua Chen, Linke Li, Qiang Zhou, Qi Chen, Qi Wang, Yan Feng, Xiangming Meng
Abstract
As an important metabolic intermediate of sulfur-containing amino acids in human body, homocysteine (Hcy) is regarded as an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Therefore, real-time monitoring of the fluctuation of Hcy level is of great importance for the early diagnosis as well as the treatment of atherosclerosis. Herein, a new two-photon (TP) fluorescent probe ( RH-2 ) was developed via a hydrogen bond-assisted strategy, which had a high specificity for detecting Hcy over cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH) in solution, cells, and tissue. Probe RH-2 was applied to the quantitative determination of Hcy in human serum successfully. Moreover, the two-photon fluorescence (TPF) imaging of abnormal expression of Hcy in aortic vessels and liver of atherosclerotic model mice were fulfilled by RH-2 . Therefore, probe RH-2 can be served as a potential tool to understand the function of Hcy in atherosclerosis, supplying a clinical promise for the early diagnosis of atherosclerosis (AS).