title: Noninvasive diagnosis of arthritis by autofluorescence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The detection of arthritis by autofluorescence was investigated using an antigen-induced arthritis model.
  
  
  METHODS
  For autofluorescence investigations of joints, a mobile fluorescence-detector was constructed consisting of a lens/mirror system attached to a conventional spectrofluorometer and optimized fiber optic cables reaching to and from the site of investigation. Autofluorescence measurements were performed at 7 arthritic and 7 healthy mice. Fifteen antigen-induced arthritis and 3 healthy mice were used for histologic examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the exudative stage (day 1), a decrease of emission signal intensities for excitation wavelengths at 300 nm (emission, 355-365 nm) and 360 nm (emission, 475-485 nm) was observed. Signals increased on day 7 (maximum of cellular infiltration). Chronic inflammation (day 14 and 21) led to a decrease of signals again.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthritis influences autofluorescence signals in vivo. The detected excitation/emission pairs can be assigned to collagen/elastin and NAD(P)H. Signal intensities of NAD(P)H differed significantly from controls at day 1 and 7.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Friedrich Schiller University-Jena, Bachstrasse 18, 07740 Jena, Germany. andreas.hansch@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hansch
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sauner
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hilger
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Ansgar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malich
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bräuer
authors.forename: Werner A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004549:Elastin / Q000032:analysis; D005453:Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009243:NAD / Q000032:analysis; D009249:NADP / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009243:NAD; D009249:NADP; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin