Single-Chain Variable Fragment Antibody of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 as a Molecular Imaging Probe for Colitis Model Rabbit Investigation

Contrast Media Mol Imaging. 2019 Jan 20:2019:2783519. doi: 10.1155/2019/2783519. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) can be a promising target for colitis study because of its critical role in inflammation development. Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody presents fast blood clearance when served as an imaging probe. We applied the probe of 99mTc-scFv-VCAM-1 to colitis rabbit to examine its imaging performance. The colitis model rabbit was prepared, and a typical inflammatory lesion was confirmed in the colon. The probe of 99mTc-scFv-VCAM-1 was synthesized and injected into the model animal before imaging examination. Scintigraphy detected colitis lesions in both SPECT planar and SPECT/CT fused images, with higher target-to-nontarget ratios in the model group (2.71 ± 0.31) than those in the control group (1.12 ± 0.10). Biodistribution study determined tracer uptake in different organs, and autoradiography (ARG) confirmed probe accumulation in colon lesions. The uptake ratio of the model colon to the control colon was 4.71 ± 0.61 in quantitative analysis of the ARG regions of interest. Stronger VCAM-1 expression in the model colon than that in the control colon was confirmed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Our imaging study indicates molecular imaging with scFv-VCAM-1 as a promising way for inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis and evaluation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoradiography
  • Blotting, Western
  • Colitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Colitis / immunology
  • Colitis / metabolism*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Molecular Probes*
  • Rabbits
  • Single-Chain Antibodies
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / immunology*
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Molecular Probes
  • Single-Chain Antibodies
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1