MSACL 2024 Abstract

The Extracellular Microenvironment as a Pathological Differentiator

Peggi Angel
Medical University of South Carolina

Peggi Angel, PhD (Presenter) MUSC Proteomics Center

Presenter Bio: Peggi Angel is tenured Professor at Medical University of South Carolina Department of Pharmacology & Immunology and Co-Director of Mass Spectrometry Imaging. Dr. Angel’s work focuses on the contribution of spatial chemical biology to the external, endogenous environmental in disparities of disease risk, progression, and therapeutic resistance. She has developed multiple mass spectrometry imaging approaches to spatial biology all of which are designed for use on clinically archived human specimens of tissues, cells and fluids, and are developed working with clinicians. Notably, she is the inventor of a spatial method targeting the collagen proteome in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues that integrates collagen proteomic maps with spatial transcriptomics and microscopy studies. Dr. Angel has over 14 years cumulative experience in 5 biotech startups including Glycopath, Inc., a company that leveraged glycosylation patterns as a prognostic or diagnostic tool; she currently serves on the board of N-Zyme Scientifics, a company that produces enzymes for targeted mass spectrometry imaging. Dr. Angel is committed to creating a collaborative mass spectrometry imaging community and serves as Past President for the Americas Region of the International Mass Spectrometry Imaging Society, as a Trustee for the International Mass Spectrometry Imaging Society, and as Secretary on the USHUPO Board of Directors. Dr. Angel is devoted to coaching and mentoring, particularly for females and minorities, serving on multiple committees to advise and mentor young scientists in entrepreneurship within multidisciplinary teams

Relevant Financial Disclosures (within past 24 months, reported on Jul 20, 2025) Committee/Board/Advisory Board GlycoPath, N-zyme Scientifics Board Member Stock/Bonds GlycoPath Discussing Products? NO, presenter will NOT present educational content related to products/services of the ineligible company(ies) listed above. Conflict mitigation NOT REQUIRED.

The extracellular microenvironment shapes cell signaling, localizes and recruits cells, and facilitates communication between cells. The chemical biology presented by the extracellular microenvironment is underutilized for biomarker mining and understanding pathological biosignatures. This presentation will focus on spatial proteomics targeting the extracellular microenvironment from clinically archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Analytical performance, use of internal standards, and considerations for multiplexing will be discussed. A recently published method adapting the tissue imaging approaches to survey extracellular proteins in serum will be discussed.