Early Detection and Staging of Lung Fibrosis Enabled by Collagen-Targeted MRI Protein Contrast Agent.

ABSTRACT: Chronic lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are major leading causes of death worldwide and are generally associated with poor prognoses. The heterogeneous distribution of collagen, mainly type I collagen associated with excessive collagen deposition, plays a pivotal role in the progressive remodeling of the lung parenchyma to chronic exertional dyspnea for both IPF and COPD. To address the pressing need for noninvasive early diagnosis and drug treatment monitoring of pulmonary fibrosis, we report the development of human collagen-targeted protein MRI contrast agent (hProCA32.collagen) to specifically bind to collagen I overexpressed in multiple lung diseases. When compared to clinically approved Gd³⁺ contr

SUBMITTER: Ibhagui OY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10302889 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature