Cutting-edge precision profiling of specific cell populations using a Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) system

激光捕获显微切割(LCM)是一种允许在显微镜上直观地识别特定群体的细胞，然后用激光切割并收集进行分析的方法。该系统有多种不同的应用，例如，它可以用来收集大脑中受疾病影响的特定细胞类型，然后将其与收集到不同容器中的未受影响的细胞进行比较。该系统还可以用于比较不同的区域，例如分离肺部的特定结构，或者收集肿瘤样本，然后将其与邻近的健康细胞进行比较。这种显微镜可以研究各种各样不同类型的样本，包括新鲜的活组织检查、冷冻或固定的尸检，甚至是培养皿中培养的细胞。我们计划购买的LCM是徕卡LMD6，它是接触式的，因此没有污染，因为激光用于切割，然后通过重力采集样品。系统中的激光器具有速度快、精度高、免维护、寿命长、用户可调等特点，可以采集多种不同类型的样品。LMD6系统的一个令人兴奋的功能是它有一个自动检测模式(ADM)，用户在屏幕上画出感兴趣的单元格，然后软件将其作为模板来横切剩余的样本，这节省了大量的时间，意味着可以收集更多的样本。这将是西南部唯一安装了自动化软件的LCM，这意味着它可以吸引外部用户以及埃克塞特大学的大量研究人员使用这台机器，他们已经计划使用这台机器。在埃克塞特大学，我们目前有17名组长，总共代表46名研究人员，他们计划在安装后使用该系统。这包括对人类健康和疾病的许多领域感兴趣的研究人员，包括脑部疾病、肺部疾病、糖尿病、感染、癌症、发育和老龄化。LCM将位于一座最先进的建筑中，这是埃克塞特大学和皇家德文和埃克塞特(RD&E)NHS信托园区之间的合作伙伴关系。由于这座建筑是临床研究设施(CRF)和生物资源中心的所在地，NHS的临床团队可能也会对这些设备感兴趣。

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is a method that allows specific populations of cells to be visually identified on a microscope and then cut out with a laser and collected for analysis. There are a wide variety of different applications for the system, for example it could be used to collect a particular cell type in the brain that is affected by disease, and then compare it to unaffected cells that are collected into a different container. The system also can be useful for comparing different regions, for example to isolate a particular structure in the lungs, or to collect a tumour sample and then compare it to neighbouring healthy cells. A wide variety of different sample types can be studied with this microscope, including fresh biopsies, frozen or fixed autopsies, or even cells grown in a dish. The LCM we plan to purchase is the Leica LMD6, which is contact and therefore contamination free, as a laser is used for cutting and the sample is then collected via gravity. The laser in the system is fast, accurate, maintenance-free, long-life and is adjustable by the user so that can collect many different types of samples. One exciting feature of the LMD6 system is that it has an Auto Detection Mode (ADM), where the user draws around the cells of interest on the screen, and then the software uses this as a template to cut across the rest of the sample, which saves a lot of time and means more sample can be collected. This would be the only LCM in the South West with automated software, meaning it can attract usage from external users as well as the large number of researchers at the University of Exeter who already plan to use the machine. At the University of Exeter, we currently have 17 group leaders, representing in total 46 researchers, who plan to use the system when installed. This includes researchers interested in lots of areas of human health and disease, including brain disorders, lung disease, diabetes, infection, cancer, development and ageing. The LCM will be located in a state-of-the-art building, which is a partnership between the University of Exeter and the Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) NHS Trust campus. As this building is home to a Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and a BioResource Centre, there is likely to also be interest in the equipment from clinical teams in the NHS.