Laser‐based microdissection approaches and applications

Abstract

The analysis and interpretation of either physiological or pathological protein changes in tissue is difficult due to the cellular heterogeneity, with multiple cell types being present. In disease, the situation may be even more complex due to diseased cells being adjacent to normal cells, the presence of distinct microenvironments such as hypoxic areas, and additional infiltrating cells such as lymphocytes. Attempting to understand the biology or pathology of particular cells against such a heterogeneous background is therefore a challenge. Laser‐assisted microdissection systems have now been developed, which allow the enrichment of specific cell types for subsequent analysis. These systems have been reviewed, together with a consideration of some of the technical issues and examples of downstream proteomic applications.