title: Molecular imaging of cell death in an experimental model of Parkinson's disease with a novel apoptosis-targeting peptide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We used a novel apoptosis-targeting peptide called ApoPep-1 in order to evaluate whether ApoPep-1 can be used as a diagnostic indicator in a model of Parkinson's disease (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was given to mice to produce the PD model. Cy7.5-labeled ApoPep-1 was given intravenously and optical imaging was taken at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after MPTP treatment. Immunohistochemical study was performed with brain sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased ApoPep-1 signal was observed in the brain of MPTP-treated mice by in vivo and ex vivo imaging study. With histological evaluation, ApoPep-1 signal demonstrated a strong correlation with loss of dopaminergic neurons or increase of apoptotic cells. Moreover, the neuroprotective effect of amantadine in the MPTP model was effectively evaluated using optical imaging of ApoPep-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that ApoPep-1 is the effective probe for imaging of apoptosis in the MPTP model and can be applied in brain diseases with apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, 101 Dongin Dong 2 Ga, Jung Gu, Daegu 700-422, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: In-San
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung-Heon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000547:Amantadine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000547:Amantadine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate