ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to evaluate serum protein expression in a murine cerebral ischemia model

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2025 Feb 5:326:125261. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.125261. Epub 2024 Oct 9.

Abstract

Stroke is a prevalent vascular disease that causes disability and death worldwide. Molecular techniques have been developed to assess serum concentrations of biomarkers associated with this disease, such as some proteins. ATR-FTIR was proposed as an alternative technique to determine protein expression during the early stages of stroke. Serum samples from sham, ischemic, and ischemic treated with estradiol benzoate (EB; as a neuroprotective agent) male rats were evaluated at 0, 2-, 4-, 6-, 12-, and 24-hours post-ischemia. The analysis was developed in the mid-infrared region but mainly focused on the protein region (1500-1700 cm-1), where it was possible to observe the modulation in the absorbance intensity. The peaks at 1545, 1645, 1635, and 1650 cm-1 associated with amide II, amide I, β-sheets, and α-helixes, respectively, were prominent peaks where protein modulation was observed. The results demonstrate that infrared spectroscopy could be a good alternative technique to determine the modulation of protein expression during stroke events.

Keywords: ATR-FTIR spectroscopy; Cerebral ischemia; Protein expression; Serum.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Proteins* / analysis
  • Brain Ischemia* / blood
  • Brain Ischemia* / drug therapy
  • Brain Ischemia* / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Estradiol / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Estradiol
  • estradiol 3-benzoate
  • Biomarkers