Albumin targeting of damaged muscle fibres in the mdx mouse can be monitored by MRI

Publication

Albumin targeting of damaged muscle fibres in the mdx mouse can be monitored by MRI

Journal Paper/Review - Dec 1, 2004

Amthor Helge, Voit Thomas, Forsting Michael, Schrenk Hans-Hermann, Sinn Hannsjörg, Weber Johannes, Janssen Isabelle, Ladd Mark E, McKinnell Iain, Egelhof Thomas, Straub Volker

Citation

Amthor H, Voit T, Forsting M, Schrenk H, Sinn H, Weber J, Janssen I, Ladd M, McKinnell I, Egelhof T, Straub V. Albumin targeting of damaged muscle fibres in the mdx mouse can be monitored by MRI. Neuromuscul Disord 2004; 14:791-6.

Type

Journal Paper/Review (English)

Journal

Neuromuscul Disord 2004; 14

Publication Date

Dec 1, 2004

Issn Print

0960-8966

Pages

791-6

Brief description/objective

Increased sarcolemmal permeability has been implicated as a major pathological event in muscular dystrophies. In our study, we evaluated whether damaged muscle fibres can be specifically targeted using albumin as a carrier. We tagged human serum albumin (HSA) with Gadolinium (Gd) and systemically applied this compound (Gd-DTPA-HSA) to wildtype and dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. We performed magnetic resonance imaging before and after intravenous administration of Gd-DTPA-HSA and found localised signal enhancement only in mdx skeletal muscle. We also examined skeletal muscle after contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using anti-human albumin antibodies and demonstrated intracellular accumulation of Gd-DTPA-HSA in clusters of damaged mdx muscle fibres. Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and histological data emphasised the value of contrast agent enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the in vivo assessment of fibre damage in muscular dystrophies. Furthermore, our data provide evidence that albumin can be used as a carrier to target covalently bound molecules to degenerating muscle fibres.