A new fluorescence-based optical imaging method to non-invasively monitor hepatic myofibroblasts in vivo.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Currently, staging of fibrosis in preclinical rodent liver fibrosis models is achieved histologically. Many animals are used at multiple time-points to assess disease progression or therapeutic responses. Hepatic myofibroblasts promote liver fibrosis therefore quantifying these cells in vivo could assess disease or predict therapeutic responses in mice. We fluorescently labelled a single chain antibody (C1-3) that binds hepatic myofibroblasts to monitor fibrogenesis in vivo.

Methods

CCl4 was used to induce acute liver injury in WT and cRel(-/-) mice. Bile duct ligation was used to model chronic fibrosis. Hepatic myofibroblasts were depleted using a liposome-drug delivery system or chemically with sulfasalazine. An IVIS® spectrum visualised fluorophore-conju

SUBMITTER: Luli S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4914605 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature