Single-Chain Variable Fragment Antibody of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 as a Molecular Imaging Probe for Colitis Model Rabbit Investigation

Abstract EN

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) can be a promising target for colitis study because of its critical role in inflammation development.

Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody presents fast blood clearance when served as an imaging probe.

We applied the probe of 99mTc-scFv-VCAM-1 to colitis rabbit to examine its imaging performance.

The colitis model rabbit was prepared, and a typical inflammatory lesion was confirmed in the colon.

The probe of 99mTc-scFv-VCAM-1 was synthesized and injected into the model animal before imaging examination.

Scintigraphy detected colitis lesions in both SPECT planar and SPECT/CT fused images, with higher target-to-nontarget ratios in the model group (2.71 ± 0.31) than those in the control group (1.12 ± 0.10).

Biodistribution study determined tracer uptake in different organs, and autoradiography (ARG) confirmed probe accumulation in colon lesions.

The uptake ratio of the model colon to the control colon was 4.71 ± 0.61 in quantitative analysis of the ARG regions of interest.

Stronger VCAM-1 expression in the model colon than that in the control colon was confirmed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

Our imaging study indicates molecular imaging with scFv-VCAM-1 as a promising way for inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis and evaluation.