Noninvasive Optical Imaging of Glomerulonephritis
Abstract
We have identified new near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) probes that specifically detect the presence of glomerulonephritis. This was achieved using two innovative technologies: 1) fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT), an optical imaging approach that noninvasively monitors biologic processes quantitatively and in three-dimensions utilizing probes that fluoresce in the near-infrared spectrum of light; and 2) activatable NIRF probes, which leverage fluorescence in the near-infrared range (650-900 nm) excited by nonionizing radiation, is minimally absorbed by water and hemoglobin, and activates in the presence of an enzyme that is in high concentrations in a tissue of interest. We found that NIRF probes activated by either cathepsin B or elastase, which derive from inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils respectively, correlate with the onset of proteinuria induced by experimental glomerulonephritis (GN) in mice. Two models of GN were used: nephrotoxic nephritis and the MRL/lpr lupus model. Importantly, this finding was specific for GN, as another model of renal injury, the CD2AP knockout mouse which models focal segmental glomerulonephritis yielded poor cathepsin B and elastase induced signals. These data support their use as a novel tool to detect GN, and possible application in humans for the detection of inflammatory kidney disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1087134
Entities
People
- Alfred H. Kim
Organizations
- University of Washington