title: Imaging neuroinflammation in vivo in a neuropathic pain rat model with near-infrared fluorescence and ¹⁹F magnetic resonance.
abstract: Chronic neuropathic pain following surgery represents a serious worldwide health problem leading to life-long treatment and the possibility of significant disability. In this study, neuropathic pain was modeled using the chronic constriction injury (CCI). The CCI rats exhibit mechanical hypersensitivity (typical neuropathic pain symptom) to mechanical stimulation of the affected paw 11 days post surgery, at a time when sham surgery animals do not exhibit hypersensitivity. Following a similar time course, TRPV1 gene expression appears to rise with the hypersensitivity to mechanical stimulation. Recent studies have shown that immune cells play a role in the development of neuropathic pain. To further explore the relationship between neuropathic pain and immune cells, we hypothesize that the infiltration of immune cells into the affected sciatic nerve can be monitored in vivo by molecular imaging. To test this hypothesis, an intravenous injection of a novel perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsion, which is phagocytosed by inflammatory cells (e.g. monocytes and macrophages), was used in a rat CCI model. The nanoemulsion carries two distinct imaging agents, a near-infrared (NIR) lipophilic fluorescence reporter (DiR) and a ¹⁹F MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) tracer, PFC. We demonstrate that in live rats, NIR fluorescence is concentrated in the area of the affected sciatic nerve. Furthermore, the ¹⁹FF MRI signal was observed on the sciatic nerve. Histological examination of the CCI sciatic nerve reveals significant infiltration of CD68 positive macrophages. These results demonstrate that the infiltration of immune cells into the sciatic nerve can be visualized in live animals using these methods.
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, and Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vasudeva
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, and Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, and Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Bree
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zeyzus-Johns
authors.affiliation: NMR Center for Biomedical Research, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: T Kevin
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Hitchens
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mylan School of Pharmacy, and Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sravan Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Celsense, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Unite States of America.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balducci
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mylan School of Pharmacy, and Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jelena M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Janjic
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences, Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, and Chronic Pain Research Consortium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pollock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004655:Emulsions; D005453:Fluorescence; D005461:Fluorine; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D005461:Fluorine