ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to assess whether Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR)micro-spectroscopy could produce distinct spectral information on protein of old myocardial infarction(OMI)and to set them as molecular markers to diagnose atypical OMI.Paraffin-embedded heart samples were derived from victims dying of OMI.In combination with histological stain,FTIR and infrared micro-spectroscopy,the characteristics of OMI were analyzed morphologicallyand molecularly.The most relevant bands identified were the amide A,B,Ⅰ and Ⅱ,showing crucial spectral differences between apparent normal region and OMI region,including the peak position blue shift and the increased intensity of OMI,moreover relative increase in a-helix and decrease in β-sheet of protein secondary structures in OMI.Comparing to single spectral band,the I1650/I1550 ratio was increased and rationally used as a molecular marker for diagnosing OMI.These novel preliminary findings supported further exploration of FTIR molecular profiling in clinical or forensic study,and were in accordance with histopathology.