Dataset Information

Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS to Explore Evidence of Treatment and Physiological Responses to Leprosy in Medieval Denmark.

ABSTRACT: Leprosy can lead to blood depletion in Zn, Ca, Mg, and Fe and blood enrichment in Cu. In late medieval Europe, minerals were used to treat leprosy. Here, physiological responses to leprosy and possible evidence of treatment are investigated in enamel, dentine, and cementum of leprosy sufferers from medieval Denmark (n = 12) and early 20th century Romania (n = 2). Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS, 12 elements were mapped in 15 tooth thin sections, and the statistical covariation of paired elements was computed to assess their biological relevance. The results show marked covariations in the Zn, Ca, and Mg distributions, which are compatible with clinical studies but cannot be directly attributed to leprosy. Minerals used historically as a treatment for leprosy show no detectable intake (As, Hg) or a diffuse distribution (Pb) related to daily ingestion. Intense Pb enrichments indicate acute incorporations of Pb, potentially through the administration of Pb-enriched medication or the mobilization of Pb from bone stores to the bloodstream during intense physiological stress related to leprosy. However, comparisons with a healthy control group are needed to ascertain these interpretations. The positive correlations and the patterns observed between Pb and essential elements may indicate underlying pathophysiological conditions, demonstrating the potential of SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS for paleopathological investigations.

SUBMITTER: Brozou A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9952905 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS to Explore Evidence of Treatment and Physiological Responses to Leprosy in Medieval Denmark.

Brozou Anastasia A Mannino Marcello A MA Van Malderen Stijn J M SJM Garrevoet Jan J Pubert Eric E Fuller Benjamin T BT Dean M Christopher MC Colard Thomas T Santos Frédéric F Lynnerup Niels N Boldsen Jesper L JL Jørkov Marie Louise ML Soficaru Andrei Dorian AD Vincze Laszlo L Le Cabec Adeline A

Biology 20230125 2

Leprosy can lead to blood depletion in Zn, Ca, Mg, and Fe and blood enrichment in Cu. In late medieval Europe, minerals were used to treat leprosy. Here, physiological responses to leprosy and possible evidence of treatment are investigated in enamel, dentine, and cementum of leprosy sufferers from medieval Denmark (n = 12) and early 20th century Romania (n = 2). Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS, 12 elements were mapped in 15 tooth thin sections, and the statistical covariation of paired elements was ...[more]

PMID: 36829463

Similar Datasets

Project description:This is the first report of the use of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-TOFMS) to analyze human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) samples at the cellular level. MPM is an aggressive, incurable cancer associated with asbestos exposure, with a long latency and poor overall survival. Following careful optimization of the laser fluence, the simultaneous ablation of soft biological tissue and hard mineral fibers was possible, allowing the spatial detection of elements such as Si, Mg, Ca, and Fe, which are also present in the glass substrate. A low-dispersion LA setup was employed, which provided the high spatial resolution necessary to identify the asbestos fibers and fiber fragments in the tissue and to characterize the metallome at the cellular level (a pixel size of 2 μm), with a high speed (at 250 Hz). The multielement LA-ICP-TOFMS imaging approach enabled (i) the detection of asbestos fibers/mineral impurities within the MPM tissue samples of patients, (ii) the visualization of the tissue structure with the endogenous elemental pattern at high spatial resolution, and (iii) obtaining insights into the metallome of MPM patients with different pathologies in a single analysis run. Asbestos and other mineral fibers were detected in the lung and pleura tissue of MPM patients, respectively, based on their multielement pattern (Si, Mg, Ca, Fe, and Sr). Interestingly, strontium was detected in asbestos fibers, suggesting a link between this potential toxic element and MPM pathogenesis. Furthermore, monitoring the metallome around the talc deposit regions (characterized by elevated levels of Al, Mg, and Si) revealed significant tissue damage and inflammation caused by talc pleurodesis. LA-ICP-TOFMS results correlated to Perls' Prussian blue and histological staining of the corresponding serial sections. Ultimately, the ultra-high-speed and high-spatial-resolution capabilities of this novel LA-ICP-TOFMS setup may become an important clinical tool for simultaneous asbestos detection, metallome monitoring, and biomarker identification.

Dataset Information

Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS to Explore Evidence of Treatment and Physiological Responses to Leprosy in Medieval Denmark.

Publications

Using SXRF and LA-ICP-TOFMS to Explore Evidence of Treatment and Physiological Responses to Leprosy in Medieval Denmark.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets