title: Ligand-based molecular MRI: O-17 JJVCPE amyloid imaging in transgenic mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Development of molecular MR imaging (MRI) similar to PET imaging using contrast agents such as gadolinium as probe have been inherently hampered by incompatibility between potential probe (charged molecules) and membrane permeability. Nevertheless, considering the inherent spatial resolution limit for PET of 700μ, the superior microscopic resolution of MRI of 4 μ presents a strong incentive for research into ligand-based molecular MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  (17) O exhibits JJ vicinal coupling with a covalently bound proton in a hydroxyl group. This (17) O coupled proton can be ionized in water solution and interexchange with other water protons. This property can be utilized as "probe" in T2-weighted imaging and developed into ligand-based molecular MRI. We examined β-amyloid distribution in human APP overexpressed transgenic mice in vivo following injection of (17) O labeled Pittsburg compound B ((17) O-PiB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  JJVCPE imaging successfully imaged (17) O-PiB, unequivocally establishing that (17) O JJVCPE imaging can be developed into PET-like molecular MRI in clinical medicine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study represents the first successful ligand-based molecular MRI in vivo. This is also the first in vivo amyloid imaging using MRI. High-resolution molecular MRI with high specificity under clinical settings, such as in vivo microscopic imaging of senile plaque, is a foreseeable aim.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Human Brain Science Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata.
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Human Brain Science Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata.
authors.forename: Hironaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Human Brain Science Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata.
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Human Brain Science Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitaura
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: Ingrid L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Human Brain Science Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata.|Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakada
mesh_terms: D058227:Amyloidogenic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C475519:2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole; D058227:Amyloidogenic Proteins; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013844:Thiazoles
keywords: 17O; JJ vicinal coupling; PiB; Pittsburg compound B; amyloid