title: A branched fluorescent peptide probe for imaging of activated platelets.
abstract: Novel fluorescent probes for thrombi and activated-platelet detection were developed that were based on the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP-IIb/IIIa) binding sequence, Pro-Ser-Pro-Gly-Asp-Trp. Linear, Pro-Ser-Pro-Gly-Asp-Trp-Aha-Gly-Cys(Cy5.5)-NH(2) (1PF), and branched, (Pro-Ser-Pro-Gly-Asp-Trp-Aha)(2)-Lys-Gly-Cys(Cy5.5)-NH(2) (2PF), fluorescent-labeled peptide probes were synthesized. A third probe, also branched, (Pro-Ser-Pro-Gly-Glu-Trp-Aha)(2)-Lys-Gly-Cys(Cy5.5)-NH(2) (2CF), was synthesized as control. The platelet-binding activity of the probes was tested in clots generated from human platelet-rich plasma. Fluorescence reflectance imaging results showed that 2PF has a 16-fold increase in fluorescence intensity compared to the autofluorescence of clots. The linear conjugate, 1PF, and free dye did not show appreciable fluorescence enhancement. 2PF fluorescence was also found 5.5-fold higher than that of the control probe, 2CF. Overall, our results suggest that 2PF binds tightly to GP-IIb/IIIa and potentially can be used for in vivo imaging of thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Ching-Hsuan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quinti
authors.forename: Farouc A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Jaffer
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weissleder
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000502:physiology; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D015539:Platelet Activation; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010455:Peptides; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D005340:Fibrinogen