CAROTENOID LEVELS IN HUMAN-LYMPHOCYTES, MEASURED BY RAMAN MICROSPECTROSCOPY

Carotenoid levels in lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood of hea lthy people have been investigated by Raman microspectroscopy. We obse rved that carotenoids are concentrated in so-called ''Gall bodies''. T he level of carotenoids in living human lymphocytes was found to be ag e-dependent and to decrease with age. We performed carotenoid uptake e xperiments using liposomes containing beta-carotene (egg phosphatidylc holine and egg phosphatidylglycerol, 10/1 molar ratio). We observed th at beta-carotene is rapidly taken up in vitro, and transported to the Gall body. From these findings we conclude that Raman microspectroscop y is a sensitive method to determine carotenoid levels in single livin g cells.