Molecular Imaging Technology Enables Insights into Newly Discovered Biologic Pathway

Scientists have discovered a major disease-related biologic pathway using an integrated and novel array of in vitro readouts and advanced in vivo imaging technologies. The newly reported biologic pathway relates to monocyte deployment from the spleen to inflammatory sites, including myocardial infarction. The findings are expected to open up new avenues of research and potentially advance therapeutic approaches to key disease areas including inflammation and myocardial injury.

In the study, researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Systems Biology (Boston, MA, USA) found that monocytes were held in concentration in the spleen and released to injured tissue sites in the body to participate in wound healing. As demonstrated in the research, the scientists discovered and detailed the biologic pathway through the use of a series of advanced and integrated in vitro assays, microscopic readouts, and in vivo imaging methodologies, including magnetic resonance (MR) imaging combined with quantitative fluorescence molecular tomographic (FMT) imaging.

Used together in a series of innovative scientific models, the researchers developed correlated data sets to both identify this previously unidentified splenic reservoir of monocytes, and demonstrate the monocyte deployment to inflammatory sites in vivo. In the in vivo data analysis, noninvasive, quantitative FMT imaging using novel fluorescent molecular imaging agents, combined with MR imaging, distinctly demonstrated not only the location, but also the biologic activity of the recruited splenic monocytes at the disease site, thus helping to confirm "unambiguously the fate of monocytes from the spleen to the heart.”

The researchers published their study's findings in the July 31, 2009, issue of Science. The imaging technology was designed by VisEn Medical, Inc. (Woburn, MA, USA), a developer of fluorescence in vivo imaging from research through medicine

"We see the integration of in vitro and in vivo readouts becoming increasingly important in research today, and we are extremely pleased that our FMT quantitative in vivo imaging technology and activatable in vivo imaging agents were able to help the research team answer some of the key questions about this important biologic pathway in vivo,” said Dr. Jeffrey Peterson, VP, applied biology at VisEn Medical. "When cardiac molecular imaging data from the FMT was combined with MRI imaging, the researchers were able to create a fused molecular and anatomical imaging map of the heart to identify and quantify biomarkers of monocyte activity in vivo. These results enabled an important data correlation that further enhanced the integrated array of in vitro assays and microscopy-based readouts of this important pathway.”

VisEn's in vivo fluorescence imaging technologies, including its fluorescence agent product range and its FMT imaging systems, provide fluorescence molecular imaging performance in identifying, characterizing, and quantifying ranges of disease biomarkers and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. VisEn's FMT systems and agents are used by leading research institutions and pharmaceutical companies worldwide in applications including cancer research, inflammation, cardiovascular, skeletal, and pulmonary disease. The company also works with large pharmaceutical and clinical partners to design ranges of customized molecular imaging agents and applications designed for their specific pre-clinical and clinical research areas.

Related Links:
Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Systems Biology
VisEn Medical