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Biomedical subjects

Sébastien Boutry

Publications and source records attributed to Sébastien Boutry.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Magnetic resonance imaging of inflammation with a specific selectin-targeted contrast agent.

E-selectin-targeted contrast enhancement of blood vessels in inflamed tissues was investigated with a new contrast agent, Gd-DTPA-B(sLe(x))A, which was recently obtained by grafting a synthetic mimetic of sialyl-Lewis(x), an E-selectin ligand, onto Gd-DTPA. The pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and potential to image inflammation by MRI of this E-selectin-targeted contrast agent were evaluated. The inhibition (by 15-34%) produced by Gd-DTPA-B(sLe(x))A on Sialyl Le(x)-PAA-biotin binding to E-selectin confirmed the specific interaction of the new contrast agent with this adhesion molecule. Gd-DTPA-B(sLe(x))A was tested at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg b.w. on mice and rats in a fulminant hepatitis model induced by the co-administration of D-galactosamine and E. coli lipopolysaccharide. A significant and prolonged contrast enhancement between blood vessels and liver parenchyma was obtained in pathological conditions, which attests to the specificity of the agent for E-selectin. The prolonged vascular residence (48.9 min in hepatitis vs. 29.8 min in healthy animals), as evidenced by the pharmacokinetic characterization, suggests that Gd-DTPA-B(sLe(x))A interacts with the specific receptors expressed during inflammation. The biodistribution of the compound indicates its retention in inflamed liver by both specific mechanisms and nonspecific accumulation due to the necrotic lesions. The same mechanisms are invoked to account for its retention in the spleen.

Animals↗

MR molecular imaging of early endothelial activation in focal ischemia.

Focal ischemia followed by reperfusion initiates a harmful P- and E-selectin-mediated recruitment of leukocytes in brain microvasculature. In this study, we tested whether a novel magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent (Gd-DTPA-sLe(x) A), which is designed to bind to activated endothelium could be detected by MR imaging (MRI) in a focal stroke mouse model. MRIs (9.4T) of the brain were acquired 24 hours after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. T1 maps were acquired repeatedly before and up to 1.5 hours after the intravenous injection of either Gd-DTPA or Gd-DTPA-sLe(x) A. Analysis of images included a pixel-by-pixel subtraction of T1 maps from the precontrast T1 maps and quantification of T1 within the ischemic area. After injection of Gd-DTPA-sLe(x) A, T1 decreased compared with precontrast levels, and an interhemispheric difference between the pre-post contrast T1 developed within the stroke lesion at a mean time of 52 minutes after injection (p < 0.05). Animals injected with Gd-DTPA did not exhibit changes in T1 signal intensity between regions of the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres, indicating that the reductions in T1 observed with Gd-DTPA-sLe(x) A were unrelated to blood-brain barrier breakdown. Fluorescent-labeled sLe(x) A administered intravenously was observed to bind to the endothelium of injured but not control brain. The study suggests that the contrast agent Gd-DTPA-sLe(x) A can be used to visualize early endothelial activation after transient focal ischemia in vivo with MRI.

Animals↗

MRI detection of early endothelial activation in brain inflammation.

MRI is an increasingly important clinical tool, but it is clear that conventional imaging fails to identify the full extent of lesion load in certain conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether a novel contrast agent (Gd-DTPA-B(sLeX)A, which contains an sLeX mimetic moiety that enables it to bind to the adhesion molecule E-selectin) can be used to identify endothelial activation in the brain. Microinjection of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1beta or TNF-alpha into the striatum of Wistar rats rapidly induces focal adhesion molecule expression on the endothelium in the absence of MRI-visible changes. This phenomenon was used to investigate the potential of Gd-DTPA-B(sLeX)A to reveal MRI-invisible brain pathology. T1-weighted serial images were acquired in anesthetized animals before and after administration of Gd-DTPA-B(sLeX)A, 3-4 hr after cytokine was injected intracerebrally. Both TNF-alpha and IL-1beta up-regulated E-selectin on the brain endothelium, which correlated with increased signal intensity observed after administration of the novel contrast agent. No enhancement was visible with the nonselective contrast agent Gd-DTPA-BMA, indicating that there was no leakage of the agent across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or nonselective binding to the endothelium. These data demonstrate the potential of such contrast agents for the early detection of brain injury and inflammation.

Animals↗

Specific E-selectin targeting with a superparamagnetic MRI contrast agent.

Targeting of the endothelial inflammatory adhesion molecule E-selectin by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed with a superparamagnetic contrast agent in the context of in vitro and in vivo models of inflammation. The specific contrast agent was obtained by grafting a synthetic mimetic of sialyl Lewis(x) (sLe(x)), a natural ligand of E-selectin expressed on leukocytes, on the dextran coating of ultrasmall particles of iron oxide (USPIO). This new contrast agent, called USPIO-g-sLe(x), was tested, in vitro, on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated to express inflammatory adhesion molecules, and in vivo, on a mouse model of hepatitis. In vitro, HUVECs were stimulated with the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and were then incubated with USPIO-g-sLe(x) or ungrafted USPIO. In vivo, hepatitis was induced on NMRI mice by injection of concanavalin A (Con A). USPIO-g-sLe(x) and ungrafted USPIO were injected intravenously. In vitro results showed an extensive retention of USPIO-g-sLe(x) on TNF-alpha stimulated HUVECs. Image intensity and R(2) measurements performed on T(2)-weighted MR images demonstrated a significantly higher binding of USPIO-g-sLe(x) on stimulated HUVECs. In vivo, USPIO are known to pass through the fenestrae of the liver and to be captured by Kupffer cells, inducing a loss of signal intensity on T(2)-weighted MR images. Unexpectedly, when injected to Con A-treated mice, USPIO-g-sLe(x) induced a significantly lower attenuation of liver signal intensity than USPIO or USPIO-g-sLe(x) injected to healthy mice, or USPIO injected to Con A-treated mice, suggesting that the specific contrast media is retained extracellularly by an interaction with E-selectin overexpressed on the vascular endothelium. Both in vitro and in vivo results therefore indicate that USPIO-g-sLe(x) is recognizing endothelial E-selectin. USPIO-g-sLe(x) is thus well suited for the MRI diagnosis of inflammation and for the in vitro evaluation of endothelial cells activation.

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