Caught in the act: in vivo molecular imaging of the transcription factor NF-kappaB after myocardial infarction.
Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor activated by various stimuli implicated in heart failure progression. However, its activation in heart failure has not been well defined yet. Therefore, we investigated activation of NF-kappaB after myocardial infarction. For the first time, we performed serial, non-invasive in vivo molecular imaging of transcription factor activation in the heart. We used mice expressing a luciferase reporter whose transcription is dependent upon NF-kappaB activation for up to 8 weeks after myocardial infarction. There was a significant increase of NF-kappaB activity with a maximum at day 3 after myocardial infarction when compared to sham controls. Thus, in vivo measurement of the activation of NF-kappaB is feasible. NF-kappaB activity might play an important role for the remodeling process.
Medizinische Klinik der Universität Würzburg, Germany.
Jochen
J
Tillmanns
Harald
H
Carlsen
Rune
R
Blomhoff
Guro
G
Valen
Laura
L
Calvillo
Georg
G
Ertl
Johann
J
Bauersachs
Stefan
S
Frantz
D000818:Animals; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
D016328:NF-kappa B