A liposomal system for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of molecular targets.
Pegylated paramagnetic and fluorescent immunoliposomes were designed to enable the parallel detection of the induced expression of molecular markers on endothelial cells with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence microscopy. MRI is capable of three-dimensional noninvasive imaging of opaque tissues at near cellular resolution, while fluorescence microscopy can be used to investigate processes at the subcellular level. As a model for the expression of a molecular marker, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) to upregulate the expression of the adhesion molecule E-selectin/CD62E. E-selectin-expressing HUVEC were incubated with pegylated paramagnetic fluorescently labeled liposomes carrying anti-E-selectin monoclonal antibody as a targeting ligand. Both MRI and fluorescence microscopy revealed the specific association of the liposomal MR contrast agent with stimulated HUVEC. This study suggests that this newly developed system may serve as a useful diagnostic tool to investigate pathological processes in vivo with MRI.
Mulder
Willem J M
WJ
Biomedical NMR, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, The Netherlands. w.j.m.mulder@tue.nl
Strijkers
Gustav J
GJ
Griffioen
Arjan W
AW
van Bloois
Louis
L
Molema
Grietje
G
Storm
Gert
G
Koning
Gerben A
GA
Nicolay
Klaas
K
D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D013696:Temperature; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology
D000906:Antibodies; D019040:E-Selectin; D008081:Liposomes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha