title: C5b-9-targeted molecular MR imaging in rats with Heymann nephritis: a new approach in the evaluation of nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the major cause of adult nephrotic syndrome, which severely affects patients' quality of life. Currently, percutaneous renal biopsy is required to definitively diagnose MN. However, this technique is invasive and may cause severe complications. Therefore, an urgent clinical need exists for dynamic noninvasive monitoring of the renal state. In-depth molecular imaging studies could assist in finding a solution. Membrane attack complex C5b-9 is the key factor in the development of MN, and this protein primarily deposits in the glomerulus. The present study bound polyclonal antibodies to C5b-9 with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles to obtain C5b-9-targeted magnetic resonance molecular imaging probes. The probes were injected intravenously into rats with Heymann nephritis, a classic disease model of MN. The signal intensity in the T2*-weighted imaging of kidneys in vivo using 7.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging decreased significantly 24 hours after injection compared to the untargeted and control groups. This signal change was consistent with the finding of nanoparticle deposits in pathological glomeruli. This study demonstrated a novel molecular imaging technique for the assessment of MN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Imaging, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qidong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chuangen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xinying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D015335:Molecular Probes; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D015335:Molecular Probes