Molecular MR imaging of liver fibrosis: a feasibility study using rat and mouse models.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Liver biopsy, the current clinical gold standard for fibrosis assessment, is invasive and has sampling errors, and is not optimal for screening, monitoring, or clinical decision-making. Fibrosis is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins including type I collagen. We hypothesize that molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a probe targeted to type I collagen could provide a direct and non-invasive method of fibrosis assessment.

Methods

Liver fibrosis was induced in rats with diethylnitrosamine and in mice with carbon tetrachloride. Animals were imaged prior to and immediately following i.v. administration of either collagen-targeted probe EP-3533 or non-targeted control Gd-DTPA. Magnetic resonance (MR) signal washout

SUBMITTER: Polasek M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3423553 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature